Note 1: Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed in the preparation of La-Z-Boy Incorporated and its subsidiaries’ (individually and collectively, “we,” “our,” or the “Company”) consolidated financial statements. Our 2019, 2018 and 2017 fiscal years included 52 weeks.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of La-Z-Boy Incorporated and our majority-owned subsidiaries. The portion of less than wholly-owned subsidiaries is included as non-controlling interest. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated, including any related profit on intercompany sales.

At April 27, 2019, we owned preferred shares of two privately-held companies, and a warrant to purchase common shares of one of the companies, both of which are variable interest entities. We have not consolidated their results in our financial statements because we do not have the power to direct those activities that most significantly impact their economic performance and, therefore, are not the primary beneficiary.

Use of Estimates

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These principles require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts or disclosures of assets, liabilities (including contingent liabilities), sales, and expenses at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Equivalents

For purposes of the consolidated balance sheet and statement of cash flows, we consider all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with initial maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash

We have cash on deposit with a bank as collateral for certain letters of credit.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) basis for approximately 62% and 64% of our inventories at April 27, 2019, and April 28, 2018, respectively. Cost is determined for all other inventories on a first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) basis. The LIFO method of accounting is used for our La-Z-Boy U.S. wholesale business inventory and the imported finished goods inventory owned by our Casegoods segment, while the FIFO method is used for the remainder of our inventory.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Items capitalized, including significant betterments to existing facilities, are recorded at cost. Capitalized computer software costs include internal and external costs incurred during the software's development stage. Internal costs relate primarily to employee activities for coding and testing the software under development. Computer software costs are depreciated over three to ten years. All maintenance and repair costs are expensed when incurred. Depreciation is computed principally using straight-line methods over the estimated useful lives of the assets.

Disposal and Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Retirement or dispositions of long-lived assets are recorded based on carrying value and proceeds received. Any resulting gains or losses are recorded as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses.

We review the carrying value of our long-lived assets for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Our assessment of recoverability is based on our best estimates using either quoted market prices or an analysis of the undiscounted projected future cash flows by asset groups in order to determine if there is any indicator of impairment requiring us to further assess the fair value of our long-lived assets. Our asset groups consist of our operating segments in our Upholstery reportable segment, our Casegoods segment, each of our retail stores, our Joybird operating segment, and other corporate assets.

Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets and Goodwill

We test indefinite-lived intangibles and goodwill for impairment on an annual basis in the fourth quarter of our fiscal year, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value might be impaired. Indefinite-lived intangible assets include our American Drew trade name and the reacquired right to own and operate La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores we have acquired. The reacquired right to own and operate La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores are indefinite-lived because our Retailer Agreements are perpetual agreements that have no specific expiration date and no renewal options. A Retailer Agreement remains in effect as long as the independent retailer is not in default under the terms of the agreement. We establish the fair value of our indefinite-lived trade names and reacquired rights based upon the relief from royalty method.

Our goodwill relates to the acquisition of La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores, the acquisition of the La-Z-Boy wholesale business in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and the acquisition of Joybird(R), an e-commerce retailer and manufacturer of upholstered furniture. The reporting unit for goodwill arising from retail store acquisitions is our Retail operating segment. We have four geographic regions which are considered components of our Retail operating segment. These four geographic regions are aggregated into one reporting unit for goodwill because they are economically similar, they operate in a consistent manner across the regions, and each store supports and benefits from common research and development projects. Additionally, the goodwill is recoverable from each of the geographic regions working in concert because we can change the composition of the regions to strategically rebalance management and distribution capacity as needed. The reporting unit for goodwill arising from the acquisition of the La-Z-Boy wholesale business in the United Kingdom and Ireland and the acquisition of Joybird is each respective business. The estimated fair value of the reporting units is determined based upon the income approach using discounted future cash flows. In situations where the fair value is less than the carrying value, an impairment charge would be recorded for the shortfall.

Amortizable Intangible Assets

We test amortizable intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis in the fourth quarter of our fiscal year, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired. We have amortizable intangible assets related to the acquisition of the La-Z-Boy wholesale business in the United Kingdom and Ireland, which primarily include acquired customer relationships.These intangible assets will be amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful lives, which do not exceed 15 years. We also have an amortizable intangible asset for the Joybird® trade name, which will be amortized on a straight-line basis over its useful life of eight years. All intangible amortization expense is recorded as a component of selling, general, and administrative expense. We established the fair value of these amortizable intangible assets based on the multi-period excess earnings method, a variant of the income approach, and also using the relief from royalty method.

Investments

Available-for-sale debt securities are recorded at fair value with the net unrealized gains and losses (that are deemed to be temporary) reported as a component of other comprehensive income/(loss). Equity securities are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recorded in other expense, net. Realized gains and losses for all investments and charges for other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities are included in determining net income, with related purchase costs based on the first-in, first-out method. We evaluate our available-for-sale debt investments for possible other-than-temporary impairments by reviewing factors such as the extent to which, and length of time, an investment’s fair value has been below our cost basis, the issuer’s financial condition, and our ability and intent to hold the investment for sufficient time for its market value to recover. For impairments that are other-than-temporary, an impairment loss is recognized in earnings equal to the difference between the investment’s cost and its fair value at the balance sheet date of the reporting period for which the assessment is made. The fair value of the investment then becomes the new amortized cost basis of the investment and it is not adjusted for subsequent recoveries in fair value.

Life Insurance

Life insurance policies are recorded at the amount that could be realized under the insurance contract as of the date of our consolidated balance sheet. These assets are classified as other long-term assets on our consolidated balance sheet and are used to fund our executive deferred compensation plan and performance compensation retirement plan. The change in cash surrender or contract value is recorded as income or expense during each period.

Customer Deposits

We collect a deposit on a portion of the total merchandise price at the time a customer order is placed in one of our company-owned Retail stores, and through our website, www.la-z-boy.com. We record this as a customer deposit, which is included in our accrued expenses and other current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet. The balance of the order is paid in full prior to delivery of the product. At the time the end consumer places an order through www.joybird.com, we collect the entire amount owed and record this as a customer deposit. Because the entire amount owed is collected at the time of the order, there is no contract asset recorded for Joybird sales.

Revenue Recognition and Related Allowances

Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to receive in exchange for those goods or services. We generate revenues primarily by manufacturing/importing and delivering upholstery and casegoods (wood) furniture products to independent furniture retailers, independently-owned La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores or the end consumer. Each unit of furniture is a separate performance obligation, and we satisfy our performance obligation when control of our product is passed to our customer, which is the point in time that our customers are able to direct the use of and obtain substantially all of the remaining economic benefit of the goods or services.

The majority of our wholesale shipping agreements are freight-on-board shipping point and risk of loss transfers to our customer once the product is out of our control. Accordingly, revenue is recognized for product shipments on third-party carriers at the point in time that our product is loaded onto the third-party container or truck and that container or truck leaves our facility. For our imported products, we recognize revenue at the point in time that legal ownership is transferred, which may not occur until after the goods have passed through U.S. Customs. In all cases, this revenue includes amounts we bill to customers for freight charges, because we have elected to treat shipping activities that occur after the customer has obtained control of our product as a fulfillment cost rather than an additional promised service. Because of this election, we recognize revenue for shipping when control of our product passes to our customer, and the shipping costs are accrued when the freight revenue is recognized. Revenue for product shipments on company-owned trucks is recognized for the product and freight at the point in time that our product is delivered to our customer’s location.

We recognize revenue for retail sales and online sales to the end consumer through our company-owned retail stores, www. la-z-boy.com or www.joybird.com once the end consumer has taken control of the furniture, at which point legal title has passed to them. This takes place when the product is delivered to the end consumer’s home. Home delivery is not a promised service to our customer, and is not a separate performance obligation, because home delivery is a fulfillment activity as the costs are incurred as part of transferring our product to the end consumer. At the time the end consumer places an order through our company-owned retail stores or www.la-z-boy.com, we collect a deposit on a portion of the total merchandise price. We record this as a customer deposit, which is included in our accrued expenses and other current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet. The balance of the order is paid in full prior to delivery of the product. Once the order is taken through our company-owned retail stores or www.la-z-boy.com we recognize a contract asset for the full order amount and a corresponding deferred revenue liability for the difference between the total order and the deposit collected. The contract asset is included in our other current assets on our consolidated balance sheet and the deferred revenue is included in our accrued expenses and other current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet. At the time the end consumer places an order through www.joybird.com, we collect the entire amount owed and record this as a customer deposit. Because the entire amount owed is collected at the time of the order, there is no contract asset recorded for Joybird sales.

At the time we recognize revenue, we make provisions for estimated refunds, product returns, and warranties, as well as other incentives that we may offer to customers. When estimating our incentives we utilize either the expected value method or the most likely amount to determine the amount of variable consideration. We use either method depending on which method will provide the best estimate of the variable consideration, and we only include variable consideration when it is probable that there will not be a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. Incentives offered to customers include cash discounts, rebates, advertising agreements and other sales incentive programs. Our sales incentives, including cash discounts and rebates, are recorded as a reduction to revenues. Service allowances are for a distinct good or service received from our customer and are recorded as a component of selling, general and administrative expense in our consolidated statement of income, and are not recorded as a reduction of revenue and are not considered variable consideration. We use substantial judgment based on the type of variable consideration or service allowance, historical experience and expected sales volume when estimating these provisions. The expected costs associated with our warranties and service allowances are recognized as expense when our products are sold. For sales tax, we elected to exclude from the measurement of the transaction price all taxes imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected by the entity from a customer, including sales, use, excise, value-added, and franchise taxes (collectively referred to as sales taxes). This allows us to present revenue net of these certain types of taxes.

All orders are fulfilled within one year of order date, therefore we do not have any unfulfilled performance obligations. Additionally, we elected the practical expedient to not adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component because at contract inception we expect the period between when we transfer our product to our customer and when the customer pays for the product to be one year or less.

Trade accounts receivable arise from the sale of products on trade credit terms. On a quarterly basis, we review all significant accounts as to their past due balances, as well as collectability of the outstanding trade accounts receivable for possible write off. It is our policy to write off the accounts receivable against the allowance account when we deem the receivable to be uncollectible. Additionally, we review orders from dealers that are significantly past due, and we ship product only when our ability to collect payment from our customer for the new order is probable.

Our allowances for credit losses reflect our best estimate of probable losses inherent in the trade accounts receivable balance. We determine the allowance based on known troubled accounts, historic experience, and other currently available evidence.

Cost of Sales

Our cost of sales consists primarily of the cost to manufacture or purchase our merchandise, inspection costs, internal transfer costs, in-bound freight costs, outbound shipping costs, as well as warehousing costs, occupancy costs, and depreciation expense related to our manufacturing facilities and equipment.

During fiscal 2017, we recorded a benefit related to legal settlements as part of cost of sales. Gross margin benefited 20 basis points in fiscal 2017, as a result of legal settlements.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

SG&A expenses include the costs of selling our products and other general and administrative costs. Selling expenses are primarily composed of commissions, advertising, warranty, bad debt expense, and compensation and benefits of employees performing various sales functions. Additionally, the occupancy costs of our retail facilities and the warehousing costs of our regional distribution centers are included as a component of SG&A. Other general and administrative expenses included in SG&A are composed primarily of compensation and benefit costs for administration employees and other administrative costs.

Pension Termination Charge

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, we terminated our defined benefit pension plan for eligible factory hourly employees in our La-Z-Boy operating unit. In connection with the plan termination, we settled all future obligations under the plan through a combination of lump-sum payments to eligible participants who elected to receive them, and transferred any remaining benefit obligations under the plan to a highly rated insurance company. We recognized a non-cash pre-tax charge of $32.7 million in our consolidated statement of income associated with the plan termination during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019.

Other Expense, Net

Other expense, net, is made up primarily of foreign currency exchange net gain/(loss), gain/(loss) on the sale of investments, unrealized gain/(loss) on equity securities, and all components of pension costs other than service costs and the charge to terminate our defined benefit pension plan for eligible factory hourly employees in our La-Z-Boy operating unit in fiscal 2019.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are charged to expense in the periods incurred. Expenditures for research and development costs were $9.1 million, $7.9 million, and $8.0 million for the fiscal years ended April 27, 2019, April 28, 2018, and April 29, 2017, respectively, and are included as a component of SG&A.

Advertising Expenses

Production costs of commercials, programming and costs of other advertising, promotion and marketing programs are charged to expense in the period in which the commercial or advertisement is first aired or released. Gross advertising expenses were $106.4 million, $88.3 million, and $82.1 million for the fiscal years ended April 27, 2019, April 28, 2018, and April 29, 2017, respectively.

A portion of our advertising program is a national advertising campaign. This campaign is a shared advertising program with our dealers’ La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores, which reimburse us for about 30% of the cost of the program (excluding company-owned stores). Because of this shared cost arrangement, the advertising expense is reported as a component of SG&A, while the dealers’ reimbursement portion is reported as a component of sales.

Operating Leases

We record rent expense related to operating leases on a straight-line basis for minimum lease payments starting with the beginning of the lease term based on the date that we have the right to control the leased property. Our minimum lease payments may incorporate step rent provisions or rent escalations. We also record rental income from subleases on a straight-line basis for minimum lease payments.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

In periods when deferred tax assets are recorded, we are required to estimate whether recoverability is more likely than not (i.e. a likelihood of more than 50%), based on, among other things, forecasts of taxable earnings in the related tax jurisdiction. We consider historical and projected future operating results, the eligible carry-forward period, tax law changes, tax planning opportunities, and other relevant considerations when making judgments about realizing the value of our deferred tax assets.

We recognize in our consolidated financial statements the benefit of a position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return when it is more likely than not that the position would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. A recognized tax position is then measured at the largest amount of benefit that is more likely than not to be realized upon settlement. Changes in judgment that result in subsequent recognition, derecognition or change in a measurement date of a tax position taken in a prior annual period (including any related interest and penalties) are recognized as a discrete item in the interim period in which the change occurs.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of our wholesale Canadian and Mexico subsidiaries is the U.S. Dollar. Transaction gains and losses associated with translating our wholesale Canadian and Mexico subsidiaries’ assets and liabilities, which are non-U.S. Dollar denominated, are recorded in other expense, net in our consolidated statement of income. The functional currency of each of our other foreign subsidiaries is its respective local currency. Assets and liabilities of those subsidiaries whose functional currency is their local currency are translated at the year-end exchange rates, and revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates for the period, with the corresponding translation effect included as a component of other comprehensive income.

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

We estimate the fair value of equity-based awards, including option awards and stock-based awards that vest based on market conditions, on the date of grant using option-pricing models. The value of the portion of the equity-based awards that are ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service periods in our consolidated statement of income using a straight-line single-option method. We measure stock-based compensation cost for liability-based awards based on the fair value of the award on the grant date, and recognize it as expense over the vesting period. The liability for these awards is remeasured and adjusted to its fair value at the end of each reporting period until paid. We record compensation cost for stock-based awards that vest based on performance conditions ratably over the vesting periods when the vesting of such awards become probable.

Commitments and Contingencies

We establish an accrued liability for legal matters when those matters present loss contingencies that are both probable and estimable. As a litigation matter develops and in conjunction with any outside counsel handling the matter, we evaluate on an ongoing basis whether such matter presents a loss contingency that is probable and estimable. When a loss contingency is not both probable and estimable, we do not establish an accrued liability. If, at the time of evaluation, the loss contingency related to a litigation matter is not both probable and estimable, the matter will continue to be monitored for further developments that would make such loss contingency both probable and estimable. Once the loss contingency related to a litigation matter is deemed to be both probable and estimable, we will establish an accrued liability with respect to such loss contingency and record a corresponding amount of litigation-related expense. We continue to monitor the matter for further developments that could affect the amount of the accrued liability that has been previously established.

Insurance/Self-Insurance

We use a combination of insurance and self-insurance for a number of risks, including workers’ compensation, general liability, vehicle liability and the company-funded portion of employee-related health care benefits. Liabilities associated with these risks are estimated in part by considering historic claims experience, demographic factors, severity factors and other assumptions. Our workers’ compensation reserve is an undiscounted liability. We have various excess loss coverages for employee-related health care benefits, vehicle liability, product liability, and workers’ compensation liabilities. Our deductibles generally do not exceed $1.5 million.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting pronouncements adopted in fiscal 2019

The accounting standards updates (“ASUs”) adopted below had a significant impact on our accounting policies and/or our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2014-09 which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. We adopted the new standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 with modified retrospective application. We reviewed substantially all of our contracts and other revenue streams and determined that while the application of the new standard did not have a material change in the amount of or timing for recognizing revenue, it did have a significant impact on our financial statement disclosures related to disaggregated revenue, customer deposits, other receivables and contract liabilities, as well as the presentation of other receivables and deferred revenues (contract liabilities) on our consolidated balance sheet. For sales tax, we elected to apply the accounting policy election permitted in ASC 606-10-32-2A, which allows an entity to exclude from the measurement of the transaction price all taxes imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected by the entity from a customer, including sales, use, excise, value-added, and franchise taxes (collectively referred to as sales taxes). This allows us to present revenue net of these certain types of taxes. See Note 16 for information on revenue disclosures.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 that requires equity investments to be measured at fair value with the fair value changes to be recognized through net income. This standard does not apply to investments that are accounted for using the equity method of accounting or that result in consolidation of the invested entity. We adopted the new standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and consequently reclassified $2.1 million of net unrealized gains from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings as a cumulative-effect adjustment during the first quarter of fiscal 2019. We also reclassified $0.5 million of tax expense related to these investments from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings. We will recognize the tax impact for these investments in the consolidated statement of income as the unrealized gains (losses) become realized. See Note 7 for additional information on our current investments.

The following table summarizes additional ASUs which were adopted in fiscal 2019, but did not have a material impact on our accounting policies or our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.


ASU		Description
ASU 2016-16		Income Taxes: Intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory
ASU 2017-01		Clarifying the definition of a business
ASU 2017-04		Simplifying the test for goodwill impairment
ASU 2018-15		Intangibles - Goodwill and other - Internal-use software: Customer’s accounting
		for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a
		service contract

Accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

The ASUs below are expected to have a significant impact on our accounting policies and/or our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures upon adoption.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 requiring lessees to record all operating leases on their balance sheet. Under this standard, the lessee is required to record an asset for the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term and a corresponding liability for the contractual lease payments. We have reviewed our inventory of leases and we are in the final stage of implementing a lease accounting system and finalizing our control framework in preparation for the adoption of this standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. We will adopt this standard using the modified retrospective approach. The adoption will have a material impact on our consolidated balance sheet as we have a significant number of operating leases. We estimate the gross up of our balance sheet to record a right of use asset and lease liability to be in the range of approximately $300-$325 million.

The following table summarizes additional accounting pronouncements which we have not yet adopted, but we believe will not have a material impact on our accounting policies or our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.


ASU	Description	Adoption Date
ASU 2016-13	Financial instruments - Credit losses	Fiscal 2021
ASU 2017-12	Targeted improvements to accounting for hedging activities	Fiscal 2020
ASU 2018-02	Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income:	Fiscal 2020
	Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other
	Comprehensive Income
ASU 2018-13	Fair value measurement - Disclosure Framework - Changes	Fiscal 2021
	to the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements
ASU 2018-14	Compensation - Retirement benefits - Defined benefit plans -	Fiscal 2022
	General - Changes to the disclosure requirements for defined
	benefit plans