Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting and reporting policies not reflected elsewhere in the accompanying financial statements.

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Herman Miller, Inc. and its majority-owned domestic and foreign subsidiaries. The consolidated entities are collectively referred to as “the company.” All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Nonconsolidated affiliates (20-50 percent owned companies) are accounted for using the equity method.

Description of Business

The company researches, designs, manufactures, sells, and distributes interior furnishings, for use in various environments including office, healthcare, educational, and residential settings, and provides related services that support companies all over the world. The company's products are sold primarily through independent contract office furniture dealers as well as the following channels: owned contract office furniture dealers, direct customer sales, independent retailers, owned retail studios, direct-mail catalogs and the company's e-commerce platforms.

Fiscal Year

The company's fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to May 31. The fiscal year ended June 3, 2017 contained 53 weeks, while the fiscal years ended May 28, 2016, and May 30, 2015 each contained 52 weeks.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency for most of the foreign subsidiaries is their local currency. The cumulative effects of translating the balance sheet accounts from the functional currency into the United States dollar using fiscal year-end exchange rates and translating revenue and expense accounts using average exchange rates for the period is reflected as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The financial statement impact of gains and losses resulting from remeasuring foreign currency transactions into the appropriate functional currency resulted in a net loss of $0.7 million, $0.7 million and $2.1 million for the fiscal years ended June 3, 2017, May 28, 2016, and May 30, 2015, respectively. These amounts are included in “Other, net” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Cash Equivalents

The company holds cash equivalents as part of its cash management function. Cash equivalents include money market funds and time deposit investments with original maturities of less than three months. The carrying value of cash equivalents, which approximates fair value, totaled $33.6 million and $7.5 million as of June 3, 2017 and May 28, 2016, respectively. All cash equivalents are high-credit quality financial instruments, and the amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution or instrument is limited.

Marketable Securities

The company maintains a portfolio of marketable securities primarily comprised of mutual funds. These investments are held by the company's wholly owned insurance captive and are considered “available-for-sale” securities. Accordingly, they have been recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices, with the resulting net unrealized holding gains or losses reflected net of tax as a component of “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

All marketable security transactions are recognized on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on disposal of available-for-sale investments are included in “Interest and other investment income” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. See Note 11 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional disclosures of marketable securities.

Accounts Receivable Allowances

Reserves for uncollectible accounts receivable balances are based on known customer exposures, historical credit experience and the specific identification of other potentially uncollectible accounts. Balances are written off against the reserve once the company determines the probability of collection to be remote. The company generally does not require collateral or other security on trade accounts receivable.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Our trade receivables are primarily due from independent dealers who, in turn, carry receivables from their customers. We monitor and manage the credit risk associated with individual dealers and direct customers where applicable. Dealers are responsible for assessing and assuming credit risk of their customers and may require their customers to provide deposits, letters of credit or other credit enhancement measures. Some sales contracts are structured such that the customer payment or obligation is direct to us. In those cases, we may assume the credit risk. Whether from dealers or customers, our trade credit exposures are not concentrated with any particular entity.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market and include material, labor and overhead. Inventory cost is determined using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method at manufacturing facilities in Michigan, whereas inventories of the company's other locations are valued using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The company establishes reserves for excess and obsolete inventory based on prevailing circumstances and judgment for consideration of current events, such as economic conditions, that may affect inventory. The reserve required to record inventory at lower of cost or market may be adjusted in response to changing conditions. Further information on the company's recorded inventory balances can be found in Note 3 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Goodwill and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level annually, or more frequently, when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of a reporting unit has more likely than not declined below its carrying value. A reporting unit is defined as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment. When testing goodwill for impairment, the company may first assess qualitative factors. If an initial qualitative assessment identifies that it is more likely than not that the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value, additional quantitative testing is performed. The company may also elect to skip the qualitative testing and proceed directly to the quantitative testing. If the quantitative testing indicates that goodwill is impaired, the carrying value of goodwill is written down to fair value.

To estimate the fair value of each reporting unit, the company utilizes a weighting of the income method and the market method. The income method is based on a discounted future cash flow approach that uses a number of estimates, including revenue based on assumed growth rates, estimated costs and discount rates based on the reporting unit's weighted average cost of capital. Growth rates for each reporting unit are determined based on internal estimates, historical data and external sources. The growth estimates are also used in planning for our long-term and short-term business planning and forecasting. We test the reasonableness of the inputs and outcomes of our discounted cash flow analysis against comparable market data. The market method is based on financial multiples of companies comparable to each reporting unit and applies a control premium. The carrying value of each reporting unit represents the assignment of various assets and liabilities, excluding corporate assets and liabilities, such as cash, investments and debt.

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not subject to amortization and are evaluated annually for impairment, or more frequently, when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of an intangible asset may not be recoverable. The company utilizes the relief from royalty methodology to test for impairment. The primary assumptions for the relief from royalty method include revenue forecasts, earnings forecasts, royalty rates and discount rates. The company measures and records an impairment loss for the excess of the carrying value of the asset over its fair value. The company's indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of certain trade names valued at approximately $78.1 million and $85.2 million as of the end of fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively. These assets have indefinite useful lives.

The company recognized asset impairment expense totaling $7.1 million associated with the Nemschoff trade name for the fiscal year 2017, which was recorded within the North American Furniture Solutions operating segment. As of the end of fiscal 2017, the carrying value of the Nemschoff trade name was zero. The company recognized asset impairment expense totaling $10.8 million associated with the POSH trade name for the fiscal year 2015, which was recorded within the Corporate category within segment reporting. The POSH trade name asset is included within the ELA Furniture Solutions segment and as of the end of fiscal 2015, the carrying value was zero. These impairment expenses are recorded in the Restructuring and impairment expenses line item within the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The trade name assets represent level 3 fair value measurements and these assets are recorded at fair value only when an impairment charge is recognized.

Goodwill and other indefinite-lived assets included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following:



(In millions)	Goodwill			Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets			Total Goodwill and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets
Balance, May 30, 2015	$	303.1		$	85.2		$	388.3
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(0.4		)	—			(0.4		)
Acquisition of George Nelson Bubble Lamp product line	3.2			—			3.2
Sale of owned dealer	(0.6		)	—			(0.6		)
Balance, May 28, 2016	$	305.3		$	85.2		$	390.5
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(0.7		)	—			(0.7		)
Sale of owned dealer	(0.1		)	—			(0.1		)
Impairment charges	—			(7.1		)	(7.1		)
Balance, June 03, 2017	$	304.5		$	78.1		$	382.6

Goodwill stemming from the acquisition of the George Nelson Bubble Lamp Product Line in fiscal 2016 is included within the Consumer reportable segment.

Property, Equipment and Depreciation

Property and equipment are stated at cost. The cost is depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets using the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives range from 3 to 10 years for machinery and equipment and do not exceed 40 years for buildings. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lesser of the lease term or the useful life of the asset. We capitalize certain costs incurred in connection with the development, testing, and installation of software for internal use. Software for internal use is included in property and equipment and is depreciated over an estimated useful life not exceeding 5 years. Depreciation and amortization expense is included in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income in the Cost of sales, Selling, general and administrative, and Design and research line items.

As of the end of fiscal 2017, outstanding commitments for future capital purchases approximated $16.3 million.

Other Long-Lived Assets

The company reviews other long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or an asset group may not be recoverable. Each impairment test is based on a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset or asset group to the future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group, or in some cases, by prices for similar assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment amount to be recognized is the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds their fair value.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2015, the company entered into an agreement to sell property in Ningbo, China upon which the company had previously intended to construct a new manufacturing and distribution facility. In the fiscal year preceding this agreement, the property had been written down to its fair value. Subsequent to the end of fiscal 2015, the company completed the sale of the Ningbo property for cash consideration of approximately $4.2 million. The cash consideration received approximated the carrying value of the property.

Amortizable intangible assets within Other amortizable intangibles, net in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist primarily of patents, trademarks and customer relationships. The customer relationships intangible asset is comprised of relationships with customers, specifiers, networks, dealers and distributors. Refer to the following table for the combined gross carrying value and accumulated amortization for these amortizable intangibles.



	June 3, 2017
(In millions)	Patent and Trademarks		Customer Relationships		Other		Total
Gross carrying value	$	20.5	$	55.3	$	7.5	$	83.3
Accumulated amortization	13.3		19.7		4.9		37.9
Net	$	7.2	$	35.6	$	2.6	$	45.4

	May 28, 2016
	Patent and Trademarks		Customer Relationships		Other		Total
Gross carrying value	$	19.8	$	55.7	$	7.5	$	83.0
Accumulated amortization	12.3		15.9		4.0		32.2
Net	$	7.5	$	39.8	$	3.5	$	50.8

The company amortizes these assets over their remaining useful lives using the straight-line method over periods ranging from 5 years to 20 years, or on an accelerated basis, to reflect the expected realization of the economic benefits. It is estimated that the weighted-average remaining useful life of patents and trademarks is approximately 6 years and the weighted-average remaining useful life of customer relationships is 9 years.

Estimated amortization expense on existing amortizable intangible assets as of June 3, 2017, for each of the succeeding five fiscal years, is as follows:



(In millions)
2018	$	6.3
2019	$	5.8
2020	$	5.7
2021	$	5.7
2022	$	5.6

Self-Insurance

The company is partially self-insured for general liability, workers' compensation and certain employee health and dental benefits under insurance arrangements that provide for third-party coverage of claims exceeding the company's loss retention levels. The company's health benefit retention levels do not include an aggregate stop loss policy. The company's retention levels designated within significant insurance arrangements as of June 3, 2017, are as follows:



(In millions)	Retention Level (per occurrence)
General liability and auto liability/physical damage	$	1.00
Workers' compensation and property	$	0.75

The company accrues for its self-insurance arrangements based on actuarially-determined liabilities, which are recorded in “Other liabilities” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The value of the liability as of June 3, 2017 and May 28, 2016 was $10.5 million and $10.6 million, respectively. The actuarial valuations are based on historical information along with certain assumptions about future events. Changes in assumptions for such matters as legal actions, medical costs and changes in actual experience could cause these estimates to change. The general and workers' compensation liabilities are managed through the company's wholly-owned insurance captive.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

Certain minority shareholders in the company's subsidiary Herman Miller Consumer Holdings, Inc. have the right, at specified times over a period of five years, to require the company to acquire portions of their ownership interest in those entities at fair value. Their interests in these subsidiaries are classified outside permanent equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are carried at the current estimated redemption amounts.

The redemption amounts have been estimated based on the fair value of the subsidiary, which was determined based on a weighting of the discounted cash flow and market methods. The discounted cash flow analysis used the present value of projected cash flows and a residual value. To determine the discount rate for the discounted cash flow method, a market-based approach was used to select the discount rates used. Market multiples for comparable companies were used for the market method of valuation. The fair value of the subsidiary is sensitive to changes in projected revenues and costs, the discount rate and the forward multiples of the comparable companies.

Changes in the estimated redemption amounts of the noncontrolling interests, subject to put options, are reflected at each reporting period with a corresponding adjustment to Retained earnings. Future reductions in the carrying amounts are subject to a “floor” amount that is equal to the fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests at the time they were originally recorded. See Note 15 - Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests for additional information.

Research, Development and Other Related Costs

Research, development, pre-production and start-up costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development ("R&D") costs consist of expenditures incurred during the course of planned research and investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge useful in developing new products or processes. R&D costs also include the significant enhancement of existing products or production processes and the implementation of such through design, testing of product alternatives or construction of prototypes. R&D costs included in “Design and research” expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income are $58.6 million, $62.4 million and $56.7 million, in fiscal 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

Royalty payments made to designers of the company's products as the products are sold are a variable cost based on product sales. These expenses totaled $14.5 million, $14.7 million and $14.7 million in fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015 respectively. They are included in Design and research expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Customer Payments and Incentives

We offer various sales incentive programs to our customers, such as rebates and discounts. Programs such as rebates and discounts are adjustments to the selling price and are therefore characterized as a reduction to net sales.

Revenue Recognition

The company recognizes revenue on sales through its network of independent contract furniture dealers and independent retailers once the related product is shipped and title passes. In situations where products are sold through subsidiary dealers or directly to the end customer, revenue is recognized once the related product is shipped to the end customer and installation, if applicable, is substantially complete. Offers such as rebates and discounts are recorded as reductions to net sales. Unearned revenue occurs during the normal course of business due to advance payments from customers for future delivery of products and services.

In addition to independent retailers, the company also sells product through owned retail channels, including e-commerce and Consumer retail studios. Revenue is recognized on these transactions upon shipment and transfer to the customer of both title and risk of loss. These sales may include provisions involving a right of return. The company reduces revenue for an estimate of potential future product returns related to current period product revenue. When developing the allowance for sales returns, the company considers historical returns and current economic trends. Revenue is recorded net of sales taxes as the company is a pass-through entity for collecting and remitting sales tax.

Shipping and Handling Expenses

The company records shipping and handling related expenses under the caption Cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Cost of Sales

We include material, labor and overhead in cost of sales. Included within these categories are items such as freight charges, warehousing costs, internal transfer costs and other costs of our distribution network.

Selling, General, and Administrative

We include costs not directly related to the manufacturing of our products in the Selling, general, and administrative line item within the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Included in these expenses are items such as compensation expense, rental expense, warranty expense and travel and entertainment expense.

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to reverse.

The company's annual effective tax rate is based on income, statutory tax rates and tax planning strategies available in the various jurisdictions the company operates. Complex tax laws can be subject to different interpretations by the company and the respective government authorities. Significant judgment is required in evaluating tax positions and determining our tax expense. Tax positions are reviewed quarterly and tax assets and liabilities are adjusted as new information becomes available.

In evaluating the company's ability to recover deferred tax assets within the jurisdiction from which they arise, the company considers all positive and negative evidence. These assumptions require significant judgment about forecasts of future taxable income.

Stock-Based Compensation

The company has several stock-based compensation plans, which are described in Note 9 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. Our policy is to expense stock-based compensation using the fair-value based method of accounting for all awards granted.

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share (EPS) excludes the dilutive effect of common shares that could potentially be issued, due to the exercise of stock options or the vesting of restricted shares, and is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net earnings by the sum of the weighted-average number of shares outstanding, plus all dilutive shares that could potentially be issued. The company also evaluates the impact on EPS of all participating securities under the two-class method. Refer to Note 8 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the computation of EPS.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of net earnings, foreign currency translation adjustments, unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities and pension liability adjustments. Refer to Note 14 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding comprehensive income.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

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

Fair Value

The company classifies and discloses its fair value measurements in one of the following three categories:


•	Level 1 — Financial instruments with unadjusted, quoted prices listed on active market exchanges.


•	Level 2 — Financial instruments lacking unadjusted, quoted prices from active market exchanges, including over-the-counter traded financial instruments. Financial instrument values are determined using prices for recently traded financial instruments with similar underlying terms and direct or indirect observational inputs, such as interest rates and yield curves at commonly quoted intervals.


•	Level 3 — Financial instruments not actively traded on a market exchange and there is little, if any, market activity. Values are determined using significant unobservable inputs or valuation techniques.

See Note 11 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for the required fair value disclosures.

Derivatives and Hedging

The company calculates the fair value of financial instruments using quoted market prices whenever available. The company utilizes derivatives to manage exposures to foreign currency exchange rates and interest rate risk. The fair values of all derivatives are recognized as assets or liabilities at the balance sheet date. Changes in the fair value of these instruments are reported within Other expenses (income): Other, net in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, or Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss within the Consolidated Balance Sheets, depending on the use of the derivative and whether it qualifies for hedge accounting treatment.

Gains and losses on derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedging instruments are recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, to the extent the hedges are effective, until the underlying transactions are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are marked-to-market at the end of each period with the results included in Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

New Accounting Standards



Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
Standard	Description	Date of Adoption	Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory	Under the updated standard, an entity should measure inventory that is measured using either the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") or average cost methods at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The updated standard should be applied prospectively.	June 4, 2017	The company has evaluated the impact of the update and its expected to be immaterial.

Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting	The standard simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment awards to employees, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, statutory tax withholding requirements and classification in the statement of cash flows. Different adoption methodologies exist (retrospectively, modified-retrospectively, or prospectively) for the various different features of the standard being updated.	June 4, 2017	The company expects the most significant impact from the share-based compensation standard to be driven by the treatment of excess tax benefits/deficiencies and expects the other impacts from the standard to be nominal. The company intends to adopt an entity-wide accounting policy election to account for forfeitures in compensation cost when they occur.



Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted (continued)
Standard	Description	Date of Adoption	Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters

Revenue from Contracts with Customers	The standard outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The core principle of the revenue model is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard is designed to create greater comparability for financial statement users across industries and jurisdictions and also requires enhanced disclosures. The standard allows for two adoption methods, a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach.	June 3, 2018	The company has completed a preliminary review of the impact of the new standard and expects changes in how the company’s performance obligations around product and service revenue are accounted for. Additionally, the company expects changes in the way it recognizes certain pricing elements of its commercial contracts. These changes are not expected to be material to the financial statements. The company expects to adopt the standard in fiscal 2019 using the modified-retrospective approach.

Financial Instruments - Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities	The standard provides guidance for the measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial assets and liabilities. The standard requires entities to measure equity investments that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method at fair value and recognize any change in fair value in net income. The standard does not permit early adoption and at adoption a cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings should be recorded.	June 3, 2018	The company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance.

Leases	Under the updated standard a lessee's rights and obligations under most leases, including existing and new arrangements, would be recognized as assets and liabilities, respectively, on the balance sheet. The standard must be adopted under a modified retrospective approach and early adoption is permitted.	June 2, 2019	The standard is expected to have a significant impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements, however the company is currently evaluating the impact.