XML 94 R32.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Prepaid Expenses

Prepaid expenses include prepaid insurance, prepaid rent, prepaid service contracts and other prepaid items.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries for which it has a controlling interest (the "Company") after elimination of all inter-company accounts, transactions and profits.

Translation of Foreign Currencies

Asset and liability accounts are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at the dates of the Consolidated Balance Sheets; revenue and expense accounts are translated at average monthly exchange rates. Translation adjustments are reflected as a component of Total equity. For subsidiaries operating in highly inflationary economies, both historical and current exchange rates are used in translating balance sheet accounts and translation adjustments are included in Net income.

The translation of assets and liabilities originally denominated in foreign currencies into U.S. dollars is for consolidation purposes, and does not necessarily indicate that the Company could realize or settle the reported value of those assets and liabilities in U.S. dollars. Additionally, such a translation does not necessarily indicate that the Company could return or distribute the reported U.S. dollar value of the net equity of its foreign operations to shareholders.

Cash Equivalents

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

Accounts Receivable

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses from the failure of its customers to make required payments for products delivered. The Company estimates this allowance based on the age of the related receivable, knowledge of the financial condition of customers, review of historical receivables and reserve trends and other pertinent information. If the financial condition of customers deteriorates or an unfavorable trend in receivable collections is experienced in the future, additional allowances may be required.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Fixed manufacturing overhead costs are allocated to inventory based on normal production capacity and abnormal manufacturing costs are recognized as period costs. Cost for a substantial portion of U.S. inventories is determined on a last-in, first-out (“ LIFO”) basis. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, approximately 36% and 37% of total inventories, respectively, were valued using the LIFO method. Cost of other inventories is determined by costing methods that approximate a first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) basis. Refer to Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements for additional details.

Reserves are maintained for estimated obsolescence or excess inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated net realizable value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions.

Equity Investments

Investments in businesses which the Company does not own a majority interest and does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for using the equity method. The Company's 50% ownership interest in equity investments includes investments in Turkey and Chile at December 31, 2018. During July 2019, the Company acquired the controlling stake of its equity investment in Kaynak Tekniği Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. (“Askaynak”), located in Turkey. The financial statements of Askaynak were consolidated into the Company at that time.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and include improvements which significantly increase capacities or extend the useful lives of existing plant and equipment. Depreciation and amortization are computed using a straight-line method over useful lives ranging from 3 years to 20 years for machinery, tools and equipment, and up to 40 years for buildings. Net gains or losses related to asset dispositions are recognized in earnings in the period in which dispositions occur.

Routine maintenance, repairs and replacements are expensed as incurred. The Company capitalizes interest costs associated with long-term construction in progress.

Goodwill and Intangibles

Goodwill is recorded when the cost of acquired businesses exceeds the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. Intangible assets other than goodwill are recorded at fair value at the time acquired or at cost, if applicable. Intangible assets that do not have indefinite lives are amortized in line with the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible asset are consumed. If the pattern of economic benefit cannot be reliably determined, the intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the legal or estimated life. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles assets are not amortized, but are tested for impairment in the fourth quarter using the same dates each year or more frequently if changes in circumstances or the occurrence of events indicate potential impairment.

In performing the annual impairment test, the fair value of each indefinite-lived intangible asset is compared to its carrying value and an impairment charge is recorded if the carrying value exceeds the fair value. For goodwill, the Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, and whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative goodwill impairment test. The quantitative test is required only if the Company concludes that it is more-likely-than-not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount. For quantitative testing, the Company compares the fair value of each reporting unit with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

Fair values are determined using established business valuation techniques and models developed by the Company, estimates of market participant assumptions of future cash flows, future growth rates and discount rates to value estimated cash flows. Changes in economic and operating conditions, actual growth below the assumed market participant assumptions or an increase in the discount rate could result in an impairment charge in a future period.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company periodically evaluates whether current facts or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of its depreciable long-lived assets to be held and used may not be recoverable. If such circumstances are determined to exist, an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows produced by the long-lived asset, or the appropriate grouping of assets, is compared to the carrying value to determine whether impairment exists. If an asset is determined to be impaired, a loss is recognized to the extent that carrying value exceeds fair value. Fair value is measured based on quoted market prices in active markets, if available. If quoted market prices are not available, the estimate of fair value is based on various valuation techniques, including the discounted value of estimated future cash flows.

Fair Value Measurements

Financial assets and liabilities, such as the Company's defined benefit pension plan assets and derivative contracts, are valued at fair value using the market and income valuation approaches. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). The following hierarchy is used to classify the inputs that measure fair value:



Level 1		Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2		Inputs to the valuation methodology include:
		• Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
		• Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;
		• Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and
		• Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
		If the asset or liability has a specific (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
Level 3		Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

Product Warranties

The Company accrues for product warranty claims based on historical experience and the expected material and labor costs to provide warranty service. Warranty services are generally provided for periods up to 3 years from the date of sale. The accrual for product warranty claims is included in Other current liabilities.

Revenue Recognition

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09 (“Topic 606”) using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018 are presented under Topic 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the Company's historic accounting. The cumulative impact of adopting Topic 606 as of January 1, 2018 did not have a material impact to the consolidated financial statements. The Company does not expect the impact of the adoption of Topic 606 to be material to the consolidated financial statements on an ongoing basis.

Revenue is recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract are satisfied and control is transferred to the customer. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for goods or services. Substantially all of the Company's sales arrangements are short-term in nature involving a single performance obligation. The Company recognizes revenue when the performance obligation is satisfied and control of the product is transferred to the customer based upon shipping terms. In addition, certain customized automation performance obligations are accounted for over time. Under this method, revenue recognition is primarily based upon the ratio of costs incurred to date compared with estimated total costs to complete. The cumulative impact of revisions to total estimated costs is reflected in the period of the change, including anticipated losses. Less than 10% of the Company's Net sales are recognized over time.

The Company recognizes any discounts, credits, returns, rebates and incentive programs based on reasonable estimates as a reduction of sales to arrive at Net sales at the same time the related revenue is recorded. Taxes collected by the Company, including sales tax and value added tax, are excluded from Net sales. The Company recognizes freight billed as a component of Net sales and shipping costs as a component of Cost of goods sold when control transfers to the customer. Sales commissions

are expensed when incurred because the amortization period is generally one year or less. These costs are recorded within Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company’s payment terms vary by the type and location of the customer and the products or services offered. The Company does not offer any payment terms that would meet the requirements for consideration as a financing component under Topic 606.

Distribution Costs

Distribution costs, including warehousing and freight related to product shipments, are included in Cost of goods sold.

Stock-Based Compensation

Expense is recognized for all awards of stock-based compensation by allocating the aggregate grant date fair value over the vesting period. No expense is recognized for any stock options, restricted or deferred shares or restricted stock units ultimately forfeited because the recipients fail to meet vesting requirements.

Common stock issuable upon the exercise of employee stock options is excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share when the calculation of option equivalent shares is anti-dilutive.

Financial Instruments

The Company uses derivative instruments to manage exposures to interest rates, commodity prices and currency exchange rate fluctuations on certain purchase and sales transactions, balance sheet and net investment exposures. Derivative contracts to hedge currency and commodity exposures are generally written on a short-term basis, but may cover exposures for up to 3 years while interest rate contracts may cover longer periods consistent with the terms of the underlying debt. The Company does not enter into derivatives for trading or speculative purposes.

All derivatives are recognized at fair value on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accounting for gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value depends on the use of the derivative and whether it is designated and qualifies for hedge accounting. The Company formally documents the relationship of the hedge with the hedged item as well as the risk-management strategy for all designated hedges. Both at inception and on an ongoing basis, the hedging instrument is assessed as to its effectiveness, when applicable. If and when a derivative is determined not to be highly effective as a hedge, the underlying hedged transaction is no longer likely to occur, or the derivative is terminated, hedge accounting is discontinued. The cash flows from settled derivative contracts are recognized in Net cash provided by operating activities in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

The Company is subject to the credit risk of the counterparties to derivative instruments. Counterparties include a number of major banks and financial institutions. The Company manages individual counterparty exposure by monitoring the credit rating of the counterparty and the size of financial commitments and exposures between the Company and the counterparty.

Cash flow hedges

Certain foreign currency forward contracts are qualified and designated as cash flow hedges. The effective portion of the fair value unrealized gain or loss on cash flow hedges are reported as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") with offsetting amounts recorded as Other current assets, Other assets, Other current liabilities or Other liabilities depending on the position and the duration of the contract. At settlement, the realized gain or loss is recorded in Cost of goods sold or Net sales for hedges of purchases and sales, respectively, in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion on cash flow hedges is recognized in current earnings.

Fair value hedges

Certain interest rate swap agreements were qualified and designated as fair value hedges. The interest rate swap agreements designated as fair value hedges meet the shortcut method requirements under accounting standards for derivatives and hedging. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of these agreements are considered to exactly offset changes in the fair value of the underlying long-term debt. Changes in fair value are recorded in Other assets or Other liabilities with offsetting amounts recorded as a fair value adjustment to the carrying value of Long-term debt, less current portion.

Net investment hedges

For derivative instruments that qualify as a net investment hedge, the effective portion of the fair value gains or losses are recognized in AOCI with offsetting amounts recorded as Other current assets, Other assets, Other current liabilities or Other

liabilities depending on the position and the duration of the contract. The gains or losses are subsequently reclassified to Selling, general and administrative expenses, as the underlying hedged investment is liquidated.

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

The Company has certain foreign exchange forward contracts which are not designated as hedges. These derivatives are held as hedges of certain balance sheet exposures. The gains or losses on these contracts are recognized in Selling, general and administrative expenses, offsetting the losses or gains on the exposures being hedged

Research and Development

Research and development costs are charged to Selling, general & administrative expenses as incurred

Bonus

Included in Selling, general & administrative expenses are the costs related to the Company's discretionary employee bonus programs, which for certain U.S.-based employees are net of hospitalization costs.

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes are recognized at currently enacted tax rates for temporary differences between the GAAP and income tax basis of assets and liabilities and operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, the Company assesses whether it is more-likely-than-not that a portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The Company maintains liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain income tax positions in various jurisdictions. The Company uses judgment in determining whether the technical merits of tax positions are more-likely-than-not to be sustained. Judgment is also used in measuring the related amount of tax benefit that qualifies for recognition, including the interpretation of applicable tax law, regulation and tax ruling.

Provisions of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("U.S. Tax Act") became effective for the Company in 2018. The Foreign-Derived Intangible Income (“FDII”) provision generates a deduction against the Company’s U.S. taxable income for U.S. earnings derived offshore that utilize intangibles held by the Company in the U.S. Conversely, the Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) provision requires the Company to subject to U.S. taxation a portion of its foreign subsidiary earnings that exceed an allowable return. The Company elects to treat any Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) inclusion as a period expense in the year incurred.

Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect the amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Acquisitions

Upon acquisition of a business, the Company uses the income, market or cost approach (or a combination thereof) for the valuation as appropriate. The valuation inputs in these models and analyses are based on market participant assumptions. Market participants are considered to be buyers and sellers unrelated to the Company in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability.

Fair value estimates are based on a series of judgments about future events and uncertainties and rely heavily on estimates and assumptions. Management values property, plant and equipment using the cost approach supported where available by observable market data, which includes consideration of obsolescence. Management values acquired intangible assets using the relief from royalty method or excess earnings method, forms of the income approach supported by observable market data for peer companies. The significant assumptions used to estimate the value of the acquired intangible assets include discount rates and certain assumptions that form the basis of future cash flows (such as revenue growth rates, customer attrition rates, and royalty rates). Acquired inventories are marked to fair value. For certain items, the carrying value is determined to be a reasonable approximation of fair value based on information available to the Company. Acquired companies are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements as of the date of acquisition.

Segments

The Company has aligned its organizational and leadership structure into three operating segments to support growth strategies and enhance the utilization of the Company's worldwide resources and global sourcing initiatives. The operating segments consist of Americas Welding, International Welding and The Harris Products Group. The Americas Welding segment includes welding operations in North and South America. The International Welding segment includes welding operations in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. The Harris Products Group includes the Company's global cutting, soldering and brazing businesses as well as its retail business in the United States.

Segment performance is measured and resources are allocated based on a number of factors, the primary measure being the adjusted earnings before interest and income taxes ("Adjusted EBIT") profit measure. EBIT is defined as Operating income plus Equity earnings in affiliates and Other income. Segment EBIT is adjusted for special items as determined by management such as the impact of rationalization activities, certain asset impairment charges and gains or losses on disposals of assets. The accounting principles applied at the operating segment level are generally the same as those applied at the consolidated financial statement level with the exception of LIFO. Segment assets include inventories measured on a FIFO basis while consolidated inventories include inventories reported on a LIFO basis. Segment and consolidated income before interest and income taxes include the effect of inventories reported on a LIFO basis. At December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 approximately 36%, 37% and 32%, respectively, of total inventories were valued using the LIFO method. LIFO is used for a substantial portion of U.S. inventories included in Americas Welding. Inter-segment sales are recorded at agreed upon prices that approximate arm's length prices and are eliminated in consolidation. Corporate-level expenses are allocated to the operating segments.

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block]

New Accounting Pronouncements

The following section provides a description of new ASUs issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") that are applicable to the Company.

The following ASUs were adopted as of January 1, 2019 and did not have a significant financial impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements unless otherwise described within the table below:



Standard	Description
ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), issued February 2018.	ASU 2018-02 allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "U.S. Tax Act"). The ASU only applies to the income tax effects of the U.S. Tax Act; all other existing guidance remains the same. The Company has elected not to reclassify the income tax effects of the U.S. Tax Act from Accumulated other comprehensive loss to Retained earnings.
ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), issued February 2016	ASU 2016-02 ("Topic 842") aims to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing a right-of-use asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a lease term greater than twelve months. Topic 842 also requires the disclosure of key information about leasing agreements. The Company adopted Topic 842 using the modified retrospective transition option of applying the new standard at the adoption date. The Company also elected the package of practical expedients, which among other things, allows it to not reassess the identification, classification and initial direct costs of leases commencing before the effective date of Topic 842. Refer to Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements for further details.

The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its financial statements of the following ASUs:



Standard	Description
ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General (Subtopic 715-20), issued August 2018.	ASU 2018-14 modifies disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. The ASU also requires an entity to disclose the weighted-average interest crediting rates for cash balance plans and to explain the reasons for significant gains and losses related to changes in the benefit obligation. The ASU is effective January 1, 2020.
ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 944), issued August 2018.	ASU 2018-13 eliminates, amends and adds disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements. The ASU impacts various elements of fair value disclosure, including but not limited to, changes in unrealized gains or losses, significant unobservable inputs and measurement uncertainty. The ASU is effective January 1, 2020.
ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), issued June 2016.	ASU 2016-13 modifies disclosure and measurement requirements related to credit losses. The ASU impacts various financial instruments, including but not limited to, trade receivables. Topic 326 requires that an entity estimate impairment of trade receivables based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. The ASU is effective January 1, 2020.
ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740), issued December 2019.	ASU 2019-12 simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. The ASU is effective January 1, 2021 and early adoption is permitted.