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Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 12 Months Ended
Sep. 27, 2014
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Nature Of Operations

Nature of Operations

MTS Systems Corporation is a leading global supplier of high-performance test systems and position sensors. The Company’s testing hardware and software solutions help customers accelerate and improve their design, development, and manufacturing processes and are used for determining the mechanical behavior of materials, products, and structures. MTS’ high-performance position sensors provide controls for a variety of industrial and vehicular applications.

Fiscal Year

Fiscal Year

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to September 30. The Company’s fiscal years ended September 27, 2014, September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012 consisted of 52 weeks.

Consolidation

Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of MTS Systems Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries (the "Company"). Significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue on a sales arrangement when it is realized or realizable and earned, which occurs when all of the following criteria have been met: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; delivery and title transfer has occurred or services have been rendered; the sales price is fixed and determinable; collectability is reasonably assured; and all significant obligations to the customer have been fulfilled.

 

Orders that are manufactured and delivered in less than six months with routine installations and no special acceptance protocols may contain multiple elements for revenue recognition purposes. The Company considers each deliverable that provides value to the customer on a standalone basis a separable element. Separable elements in these arrangements may include the design and manufacture of hardware and essential software, installation services, training and/or post contract software maintenance and support. The Company initially allocates consideration to each separable element using the relative selling price method. Selling prices are determined by the Company based on either vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) (the actual selling prices of similar products and services sold on a standalone basis) or, in the absence of VSOE, the Company’s best estimate of the selling price. Factors considered by the Company in determining estimated selling prices for applicable elements generally include overall economic conditions, customer demand, costs incurred by the Company to provide the deliverable, as well as the Company’s historical pricing practices. Under these arrangements, revenue associated with each delivered element is recognized in an amount equal to the lesser of the consideration initially allocated to the delivered element or the amount for which payment is not deemed contingent upon future delivery of other elements in the arrangement. Under arrangements where special acceptance protocols exist, installation services and training are not considered separable. Accordingly, revenue for the entire arrangement is recognized upon the completion of installation, training and fulfillment of any other significant obligations specific to the terms of the arrangement. Arrangements that do not contain any separable elements are typically recognized when the products are shipped and title has transferred to the customer.

 

Certain contractual arrangements require longer production periods, generally longer than six months (long-term contracts), and may contain non-routine installations and special acceptance protocols. These arrangements often include hardware and essential software, installation services, training and support. Long-term contractual arrangements involving essential software typically include significant production, modification, and customization. For long-term arrangements with essential software and all other long-term arrangements with complex installations and/or unusual acceptance protocols, revenue is recognized using the percentage-of-completion method, based on the cost incurred to-date relative to estimated total cost of the contract. Elements of an arrangement that do not separately fall within the scope of the percentage of completion method (e.g. training and post contract software maintenance and support) are recognized as the service is provided in amounts determined based on VSOE, or in the absence of VSOE, the Company’s best estimate of the selling price.

 

Under the terms of the Company’s long-term contracts, revenue recognized using the percentage-of-completion method may not, in certain circumstances, be invoiced until completion of contractual milestones, upon shipment of the equipment, or upon installation and acceptance by the customer. Unbilled amounts for these contracts appear in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Unbilled Accounts Receivable.

 

Revenue from arrangements for services such as maintenance, repair, consulting and technical support are recognized either as the service is performed or ratably over the defined contractual period for service maintenance contracts. Revenue from post contract software maintenance and support services is recognized ratably over the defined contractual period of the maintenance agreement.

 

The Company’s sales arrangements typically do not include specific performance-, cancellation-, termination-, or refund-type provisions. In the event a customer cancels a contractual arrangement, the Company would typically be entitled to receive reimbursement from the customer for actual costs incurred under the arrangement plus a reasonable margin.

 

Revenue is recorded net of taxes collected from customers that are remitted to governmental authorities, with the collected taxes recorded as current liabilities until remitted to the relevant government authority.

Shipping And Handling

Shipping and Handling

Freight revenue billed to customers is reported within Revenue on the Consolidated Statements of Income, and expenses incurred for shipping products to customers are reported within Cost of Sales on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Research And Development

Research and Development

Research and development costs associated with new products are charged to operations as incurred.

Foreign Currency

Foreign Currency

The financial position and results of operations of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are measured using local currency as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities are translated using fiscal period-end exchange rates, and monthly statements of income are translated using average exchange rates applicable to each month, with the resulting translation adjustments recorded as a separate component of Shareholders' Investment. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company recorded net foreign currency transaction losses of ($1.4) million, ($1.7) million, and ($1.8) million during the fiscal year ended September 27, 2014, September 28, 2013, and September 29, 2012, respectively.

Cash And Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents represent cash, demand deposits, and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Cash equivalents are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value. Cash equivalents, both inside and outside the United States, are invested in bank deposits and/or money market funds and are held in local currency denominations.

Accounts Receivable And Long-Term Contracts

Accounts Receivable and Long-Term Contracts

The Company grants credit to customers, but it generally does not require collateral or other security from domestic customers. When deemed appropriate, receivables from customers located outside the United States are supported by letters of credit from financial institutions. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on management's assessment of the collectability of specific customer accounts and includes consideration of the credit worthiness and financial condition of those specific customers. The Company records an allowance to reduce receivables to the amount that is reasonably believed to be collectible and considers factors such as the financial condition of the customer and the aging of the receivables. If there is a deterioration of a customer's financial condition, if the Company becomes aware of additional information related to the credit worthiness of a customer, or if future actual default rates on trade receivables in general differ from those currently anticipated, the Company may have to adjust its allowance for doubtful accounts, which would affect earnings in the period the adjustments were made.

 

The Company enters into long-term contracts for customized equipment sold to its customers. Under the terms of such contracts, revenue recognized using the percentage-of-completion method may be invoiced upon completion of contractual milestones, shipment to the customer, or installation and customer acceptance. Unbilled amounts relating to these contracts are reflected as Unbilled Accounts Receivable in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Amounts unbilled at September 27, 2014 are expected to be invoiced during fiscal year 2015.

Inventories

Inventories

Inventories consist of material, labor, and overhead costs and are stated at the lower of cost or market value, determined under the first-in, first-out accounting method. Inventories at September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

 

2013

 

 

(expressed in thousands)

Customer projects in various stages of completion

$
22,559 

 

$
19,194 

Components, assemblies and parts

 
60,998 

 

 
58,795 

Total

$
83,557 

 

$
77,989 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Software Development Costs

Software Development Costs

The Company capitalizes certain software development costs related to software to be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed. Capitalized software development costs include purchased materials and services, salary and benefits of the Company’s development and technical support staff, and other costs associated with the development of new products and services. Software development costs are expensed as incurred until technological feasibility has been established, at which time future costs incurred are capitalized until the product is available for general release to the public. Based on the Company’s product development process, technological feasibility is generally established once product and detailed program designs have been completed, uncertainties related to high-risk development issues have been resolved through coding and testing, and the Company has established that the necessary skills, hardware, and software technology are available for production of the product. Once a software product is available for general release to the public, capitalized development costs associated with that product will begin to be amortized to cost of sales over the product’s estimated economic life, using the greater of straight-line or a method that results in cost recognition in future periods that is consistent with the anticipated timing of product revenue recognition.

 

The Company’s capitalized software development costs are subject to an ongoing assessment of recoverability, which is impacted by estimates and assumptions of future revenues and expenses for these software products, as well as other factors such as changes in product technologies. Any portion of unamortized capitalized software development costs that are determined to be in excess of net realizable value will be expensed in the period such a determination is made. The Company capitalized $0.9 million and $0.5 million of software development costs during the fiscal years ended September 27, 2014 and September 29, 2012. No software development costs were capitalized during the fiscal year ended September 28, 2013. Amortization expense for software development costs was $2.8 million, $2.8 million and $2.6 million for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2014, September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on capitalized software development costs.

Impairment Of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

The Company reviews the carrying value of long-lived assets or asset groups, such as property and equipment and intangibles subject to amortization, when events or changes in circumstances such as asset utilization, physical change, legal factors, or other matters indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. When this review indicates the carrying value of an asset or asset group exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or asset group, the Company recognizes an asset impairment charge against operations. The amount of the impairment loss recorded is the amount by which the carrying value of the impaired asset or asset group exceeds its fair value.

Property And Equipment

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is stated at cost. Additions, replacements, and improvements are capitalized at cost, while maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Depreciation is recorded over the following estimated useful lives of the property:

 

Buildings and improvements: 10 to 40 years

Machinery and equipment: 3 to 10 years

 

Building and equipment additions are generally depreciated on a straight-line basis for financial reporting purposes and on an accelerated basis for income tax purposes. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on property and equipment.

 

Goodwill And Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition costs over the fair value of the net assets of businesses acquired. Goodwill is not amortized, but instead tested at least annually for impairment. Goodwill is also tested for impairment as changes in circumstances occur indicating that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill impairment testing first requires a comparison of the fair value of each reporting unit to the carrying value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds fair value, goodwill is considered impaired.

 

Other Assets

Other Assets

Other assets at September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 primarily consisted of security deposits paid on leased property and cash redemption values on group insurance policies.

Warranty Obligations

Warranty Obligations

Sales of the Company’s products and systems are subject to limited warranty obligations that are included in customer contracts. For sales that include installation services, warranty obligations typically extend for a period of twelve to twenty-four months from the date of either shipment or acceptance. Product obligations typically extend for a period of twelve to twenty-four months from the date of purchase. Under the terms of these warranties, the Company is obligated to repair or replace any components or assemblies it deems defective due to workmanship or materials. The Company reserves the right to reject warranty claims where it determines that failure is due to normal wear, customer modifications, improper maintenance, or misuse. The Company records general warranty provisions based on an estimated warranty expense percentage applied to current period revenue. The percentage applied reflects historical warranty claims experience over the preceding twelve-month period. Both the experience percentage and the warranty liability are evaluated on an ongoing basis for adequacy. In addition, warranty provisions are also recognized for certain nonrecurring product claims that are individually significant.

 

Warranty provisions and claims for the years ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, were as follows:

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company’s results of operations could be materially impacted by changes in foreign currency exchange rates, as well as interest rates on its floating rate indebtedness. In an effort to manage exposure to these risks, the Company periodically enters into forward and option currency exchange contracts, interest rate swaps and forward interest rate swaps. Since the market value of these hedging contracts is derived from current market rates, they are classified as derivative financial instruments. The Company does not use derivatives for speculative or trading purposes. The derivative contracts contain credit risk to the extent that the Company’s bank counterparties may be unable to meet the terms of the agreements. The amount of such credit risk is generally limited to the unrealized gains, if any, in such contracts. Such risk is minimized by limiting those counterparties to major financial institutions of high credit quality. For derivative instruments executed under master netting arrangements, the Company has the contractual right to offset fair value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral with obligations to return cash collateral. The Company does not offset fair value amounts recognized on these derivative instruments. At both September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, the Company did not have any foreign exchange contracts with credit-risk related contingent features. See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on derivatives and hedging activities.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company records a tax provision for the anticipated tax consequences of the reported results of operations. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the currently enacted tax rates that apply to taxable income in effect for the years in which those deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is believed more likely than not to be realized. The Company believes it is more likely than not that forecasted income, including income that may be generated as a result of certain tax planning strategies, together with the tax effects of the deferred tax liabilities, will be sufficient to fully recover the remaining net realizable value of its deferred tax assets. In the event that all or part of the net deferred tax assets are determined not to be realizable in the future, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would be charged to earnings in the period such determination is made. In addition, the calculation of tax liabilities involves significant judgment in estimating the impact of uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws. Resolution of these uncertainties in a manner inconsistent with management’s expectations could have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition and operating results. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on income taxes.

Earnings Per Common Share

Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing net earnings by the daily weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the applicable periods. Using the treasury stock method, diluted earnings per share includes the potentially dilutive effect of common shares issued in connection with outstanding stock-based compensation options and grants. Under the treasury stock method, shares associated with certain stock options have been excluded from the diluted weighted average shares outstanding calculation because the exercise of those options would lead to a net reduction in common shares outstanding. As a result, stock options to acquire 0.3 million, less than 0.1 million, and 0.4 million weighted common shares have been excluded from the diluted weighted shares outstanding calculation for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2014, September 28, 2013, and September 29, 2012, respectively. The potentially dilutive effect of common shares issued in connection with outstanding stock options is determined based on net income. A reconciliation of these amounts is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

 

2013

 

 

2012

 

 

(expressed in thousands, except per share data)

Net income

$
42,009 

 

$
57,806 

 

$
51,556 

Weighted average common shares outstanding

 
15,218 

 

 
15,664 

 

 
15,913 

Dilutive potential common shares

 
179 

 

 
197 

 

 
164 

Weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding

 
15,397 

 

 
15,861 

 

 
16,077 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$
2.76 

 

$
3.69 

 

$
3.24 

Diluted

$
2.73 

 

$
3.64 

 

$
3.21 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Purchases

Stock Purchases

During fiscal year 2012, the Company entered into an accelerated share purchase agreement with an unrelated third-party investment bank. In connection with the agreement, the Company made an initial $35.0 million payment to the investment bank and immediately received an initial delivery of approximately 0.5 million shares of its common stock with a fair value of $28.0 million as of the purchase date. Effective as of the date of the initial 0.5 million stock purchase, the transaction was accounted for as a share retirement, resulting in a reduction of common stock, additional paid-in capital and retained earnings of $0.1 million, $26.1 million and $1.8 million, respectively. The remaining $7.0 million of the Company’s initial payment to the investment bank was reported as a reduction in retained earnings. The agreement specified that the Company had the option to settle any obligation that it may have at the conclusion of the contract in either cash or shares of the Company’s common stock. These settlement alternatives had the same economic value to the Company. Based on the facts, during the entire term of the agreement, the forward contract met the requirements of ASC 480-10 and ASC 815-40 to be classified as permanent equity.

 

During fiscal year 2013, the Company received approximately 0.1 million shares of its common stock from the bank pursuant to the settlement of the accelerated share purchase program. The amount of shares received at settlement was determined based on the volume weighted average price of the Company’s stock during the purchase period. Upon settlement of the contract, the Company accounted for the 0.1 million shares received as a share retirement, resulting in a less than $0.1 million reduction and corresponding increase in common stock and paid-in capital, respectively.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for the award of equity instruments based on the fair value of the award at the date of grant, and recognizes the cost over the period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for the award.

 

For purposes of determining estimated fair value of stock-based payment awards, the Company utilizes a Black-Scholes option pricing model, which requires the input of certain assumptions requiring management judgment. Because the Company’s employee stock option awards have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the input assumptions can materially affect fair value estimates, existing models may not provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of employee stock options. Management will continue to assess the assumptions and methodologies used to calculate estimated fair value of stock-based compensation. Circumstances may change and additional data may become available over time that could result in changes to these assumptions and methodologies and thereby materially impact the fair value determination of future grants of stock-based payment awards. If factors change and the Company employs different assumptions in future periods, the compensation expense recorded may differ significantly from the stock-based compensation expense recorded in the current period. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on stock-based compensation.

Loss Contingencies

Loss Contingencies

The Company establishes an accrual for loss contingencies when it is both probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred, and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. When loss contingencies are not probable and cannot be reasonably estimated, the Company does not establish an accrual. However, when there is at least a reasonable possibility that a loss has been incurred, but it is not probable or reasonably estimated, the Company discloses the nature of the loss contingency and an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss, as applicable. Any adjustment made to a loss contingency accrual during an accounting period affects the earnings of the period.

Use Of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, and reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Additionally, the Company frequently undertakes significant technological innovation on certain of its long-term contracts, involving performance risk that may result in delayed delivery of product and/or revenue and gross profit variation due to changes in the ultimate costs of these contracts versus estimates. On an ongoing basis the Company evaluates its estimates including those related to receivables, inventory, property plant and equipment, intangible assets, warranties, accrued expenses, share-based compensation, income taxes, capitalized software among others. Actual results could differ from those estimates

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2011-11, “Balance Sheet (Topic 210):  Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities” (“ASU 2011011”), which requires an entity to disclose information about derivatives subject to enforceable master netting arrangements, including rights of offset, to enable users of its financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. Subsequently, in January 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-01, “Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities” (“ASU 2013-01”), which clarifies the instruments and transactions that are subject to the offsetting disclosure requirements established by ASU 2011-11. The Company adopted ASU 2011-11 and ASU 2013-01 during the first quarter of fiscal year 2014, and the presentation and disclosure requirements were applied retrospectively.  Other than the enhanced disclosures, the adoption of these pronouncements did not impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In May 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with customers (Topic 606)”.  This update clarifies the principles for revenue recognition in transactions involving contracts with customers.  The new revenue recognition model provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized.  The new model will require revenue recognition to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration a company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance will be effective for the Company’s interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, which is the Company’s fiscal year 2018. Early adoption is not permitted.  The Company has not yet evaluated what impact, if any, the adoption of this guidance may have on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or disclosures.