Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Related Data (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 03, 2018

Basis of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the balances of Apogee Enterprises, Inc. and its subsidiaries (Apogee, the Company or we) after elimination of intercompany balances and transactions. We consolidate variable interest entities where it has been determined that the Company is the primary beneficiary of those entities' operations.

Fiscal Year

Fiscal Year. Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to the last day of February, or as determined by the Board of Directors. Fiscal 2018 and 2016 each consisted of 52 weeks, while fiscal 2017 consisted of 53 weeks. Our Brazilian subsidiary follows a calendar year-end and is consolidated on a two-month lag.

Accounting Estimates

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

Cash Equivalents

Cash Equivalents. Highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less are included in cash equivalents and are stated at cost, which approximates fair value

Inventories

Inventories. Inventories, which consist primarily of purchased glass and aluminum, are valued at lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment. Property, plant and equipment (PP&E) is recorded at cost. Significant improvements and renewals that extend the useful life of the asset are capitalized. Repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. When an asset is retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any related gains or losses are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Long-lived assets to be held and used, such as PP&E, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis, based on the following estimated useful lives:



	Years
Buildings and improvements	10 to 25
Machinery and equipment	3 to 15
Office equipment and furniture	3 to 7

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets. Goodwill represents the excess of the cost over the net tangible and identified intangible assets of acquired businesses. We evaluate goodwill for impairment annually at our year-end, or more frequently if impairment indicators exist. This year we elected to bypass the qualitative assessment process and to proceed directly to comparing the fair value of each of our reporting units to carrying value, including goodwill. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, goodwill impairment is not indicated. Each of our nine business units represents a reporting unit for the goodwill impairment analysis. Based on our analysis, the estimated fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value and, therefore, goodwill impairment was not indicated. We have followed a consistent discounted cash flow methodology to evaluate goodwill in all periods presented.

We base our determination of fair value on a discounted cash flow methodology that involves significant judgment and projections of future performance. Assumptions about future revenues and expenses, capital expenditures and changes in working capital are based on the annual operating plan and long-term business plan for each business unit. These plans take into consideration numerous factors, including historical experience, anticipated future economic conditions and growth expectations for the industries and end markets in which we participate. Growth rates for revenues and operating profits vary for each reporting unit. The discount rate assumption for each reporting unit takes into consideration our assessment of risks inherent in the future cash flows of our business and an estimated weighted-average cost of capital.

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are tested for impairment annually at our year-end, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired. If the carrying amount of an indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. Fair value is measured using the relief-from-royalty method. This method assumes the trade name or mark has value to the extent that the owner is relieved of the obligation to pay royalties for the benefits received from them. This method requires us to estimate the future revenue from the related asset, the appropriate royalty rate, and the weighted average cost of capital. The assessment of fair value involves significant judgment and projections about future performance. Based on our analysis, the fair value of each indefinite-lived asset exceeded the carrying amount.

Intangible assets with defined useful lives are amortized based on estimated useful lives ranging from 18 months to 20 years and are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

Self-Insurance

Self-Insurance. We obtain commercial insurance for potential losses for general liability, employment practices, workers' compensation, automobile liability, architect's and engineer's errors and omissions risk, product rework and other miscellaneous coverages. A substantial portion of this risk is retained on a self-insured basis through our wholly-owned insurance subsidiary. We establish a reserve for estimated ultimate losses on reported claims and those incurred but not yet reported utilizing actuarial projections. Reserves are classified within accrued or long-term self-insurance reserves based on expectations of when the estimated loss will be paid.

Additionally, we maintain a self-insurance reserve for health insurance programs offered to eligible employees, included within accrued self-insurance reserves. The reserve includes an estimate for losses on reported claims as well as for amounts incurred but not yet reported, based on historical trends.

Warranty

Warranty. We are subject to claims associated with our products and services, principally as a result of disputes with our customers involving the performance or aesthetics of our architectural products and services. We reserve estimated exposures on known claims, as well as on a portion of anticipated claims for product warranty and rework costs, based on historical product liability claims as a ratio of sales. Our warranty reserves are included in other current and non-current liabilities based on the estimated timing of dispute resolution.

Environmental Liability

Environmental Liability. We recognize environmental clean-up liabilities on an undiscounted basis when loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated based on estimates by specialists and applicable law. Such estimates are based primarily on the estimated cost of investigation and remediation required, and the likelihood that, where applicable, other potentially responsible parties will not be able to fulfill their commitments at the sites where the Company may be jointly and severally liable. The reserve for environmental liabilities is included in other current and non-current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

Foreign Currency

Foreign Currency. Local currencies are considered the functional currencies for our subsidiaries outside of the United States. Assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries are translated at the exchange rates at the balance sheet date. Income and expense items are translated using average monthly exchange rates. Translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the consolidated balance sheets.

Derivatives and Hedging Activities. We periodically enter into forward purchase foreign currency contracts, generally with an original maturity date of less than one year, to hedge foreign currency exchange rate risk. All derivative instruments within the scope of ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, are recorded on the consolidated balance sheet at fair value. All hedging instruments that qualify for hedge accounting are designated and effective as hedges. Instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting are marked to market with changes recognized in current earnings. Cash flows from derivative instruments are classified in the statement of cash flows in the same category as the cash flows from the items subject to designated hedge or undesignated (economic) hedge relationships.We do not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes and are not a party to leveraged derivatives.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition. We recognize revenue when title has transferred, except within our Architectural Services segment and for one business within our Architectural Framing Systems segment, which enter into fixed-price contracts for projects typically performed over a 12- to 24-month timeframe. We record revenue for these contracts on a percentage-of-completion basis as we are able to reasonably estimate total contract revenue and total contract costs. We compare the total costs incurred to date to the total estimated costs for the contract, and record that proportion of the total contract revenue in the period. Contract costs include materials, labor and other direct costs related to contract performance. We believe utilizing the cost-to-cost method for revenue recognition provides the greatest degree of accuracy in measuring revenue throughout the contract period. Provisions are established for estimated losses, if any, on uncompleted contracts in the period in which such losses are determined. Amounts representing contract change orders, claims or other items are included in contract revenue only upon customer approval. Approximately 22 percent, 26 percent and 25 percent of our consolidated net sales in fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, were recorded on a percentage-of-completion basis.

Revenue excludes sales taxes as the Company considers itself a pass-through conduit for collecting and remitting sales taxes.

Pricing and Sales Incentives

Pricing and Sales Incentives. The Company records estimated reductions to revenue for customer programs and incentive offerings, including pricing arrangements, promotions and other volume-based incentives, at the later of the date revenue is recognized or the incentive is offered. Sales incentives given to customers are recorded as a reduction to net sales unless (1) the Company receives an identifiable benefit for goods or services in exchange for the consideration, and (2) the Company can reasonably estimate the fair value of the benefit received.

Shipping and Handling

Shipping and Handling. All amounts billed to a customer in a sales transaction related to shipping and handling represent revenues earned and are reported as revenue. Costs incurred by the Company for shipping and handling are reported as cost of sales.

Research and Development

Research and Development. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred within selling, general and administrative expenses, and were $14.0 million, $8.6 million and $8.0 million for fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Of these amounts, $1.5 million, $2.2 million and $2.4 million, respectively, were focused primarily upon design of custom window and curtainwall systems in accordance with customer specifications and are included in cost of sales.

Advertising

Advertising. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred within selling, general and administrative expenses, and were $1.4 million in fiscal 2018, $1.1 million in fiscal 2017 and $1.2 million in fiscal 2016.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities based upon the future tax consequences of temporary differences between financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. See Note 14 for additional information regarding income taxes.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events. We have evaluated subsequent events for potential recognition and disclosure through the date of this filing and determined that there were no subsequent events that required recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements.

New Accounting Standards

New Accounting Standards. In February 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), issued ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which permits a company to reclassify the disproportionate income tax effects of the 2017 Act on items within AOCI to retained earnings. The FASB refers to these amounts as “stranded tax effects.” The ASU also requires certain new disclosures, applicable for all companies. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and may be early adopted. We are evaluating the timing of adopting this standard, but do not expect it to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging, which improves the financial reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity's risk management activities in its financial statements. ASU 2017-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (our fiscal 2020), with early adoption permitted. We have elected to early adopt ASU 2017-12, and the standard has been applied to derivative contracts entered into in fiscal 2018.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment by requiring impairment charges to be based on the first step in the current two-step impairment test process. The new guidance eliminates the current requirement to calculate a goodwill impairment charge using step 2. The standard is applicable to impairment tests performed in periods beginning after December 15, 2019 (our fiscal 2020), with early adoption permitted. We elected to early adopt this standard for our fiscal 2018 goodwill impairment assessment process.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows, and in November 2016, it issued 2016-18, Restricted Cash. Both standards provide guidance for presentation of certain topics within the statement of cash flows, including presenting restricted cash within cash and cash equivalents, and are intended to improve consistency in presentation. The new classification guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 (our fiscal 2019), and is to be applied retrospectively for comparability across all periods. These standards may be adopted early, and we are considering the timing of adoption but we do not expect this guidance to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which provides for a comprehensive change to lease accounting. The new standard requires that a lessee recognize a lease obligation liability and a right to use asset for virtually all leases of property, plant and equipment, subsequently amortized over the lease term. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (our fiscal 2020), with a modified retrospective transition. The adoption of this standard will result in reflecting assets and liabilities for the value of our leased property and equipment on our consolidated balance sheet, but it is not expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated results of operations.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which outlines a single comprehensive model to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance. Under the new standard, an entity recognizes 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. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, our fiscal 2019 and we adopted the standard beginning in our fiscal year 2019.


•	We adopted the guidance following a modified retrospective transition method, with a cumulative effect adjustment to opening retained earnings in fiscal 2019. We estimate this retained earnings adjustment to be approximately $3 to $5 million.


•	Some of our business units will continue to recognize revenue at the point in time when goods are shipped, as that represents when control is transferred to the customer. We also have business units that will continue to recognize revenue over time, following a cost-to-cost percentage of completion method for revenue recognition.

•

Two of our business units, representing approximately 38 percent of our total net sales, will change from recognizing revenue at a point in time to recognizing revenue over time, to better reflect transfer of control to the customer in line with the new guidance. We have determined measures of progress toward completion for each business, based on the contract terms and the facts and circumstances associated with the performance obligations of each business.