SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2015

Nature of Operations

Nature of Operations – Thor Industries, Inc. was founded in 1980 and, through its subsidiaries, manufactures a wide range of recreational vehicles at various manufacturing facilities primarily in Indiana and Ohio. These products are sold to independent dealers primarily throughout the United States and Canada. Unless the context otherwise requires or indicates, all references to “Thor”, the “Company”, “we”, “our” and “us” refer to Thor Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

The Company’s core ongoing business activities are comprised of two distinct operations, which include the design, manufacture and sale of motorized recreational vehicles and towable recreational vehicles. Accordingly, the Company has presented segmented financial information for these two segments in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. See Note 3, “Discontinued Operations,” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of the Company’s bus operations which were sold as of October 20, 2013. Accordingly, the accompanying financial statements (including footnote disclosures unless otherwise indicated) reflect these operations as discontinued operations apart from the Company’s continuing operations.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation – The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Thor Industries, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated upon consolidation.

Estimates

Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Key estimates include reserves for inventory, incurred but not reported medical claims, warranty claims, recalls, workers’ compensation claims, vehicle repurchases, uncertain tax positions, product and non-product litigation and assumptions made in asset impairment assessments. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Company believes that such estimates are made using consistent and appropriate methods. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents – Interest-bearing deposits and other investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased are considered cash equivalents. At July 31, 2015 and 2014, cash and cash equivalents of $170,231 and $279,511, respectively, were held by one financial institution. The remaining $13,247 and $9,825 at July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, were held at various other financial institutions.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments – The carrying amount of cash equivalents, investments, accounts receivable, notes receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the relatively short maturity of these financial instruments.

Inventories

Inventories – Most inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, determined on the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) basis with the remainder being valued on a first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) basis. Manufacturing costs include materials, labor, freight-in and manufacturing overhead. Unallocated overhead and abnormal costs are expensed as incurred.

Depreciation

Depreciation – Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

Buildings and improvements – 10 to 39 years

Machinery and equipment – 3 to 10 years

Depreciation expense is recorded in cost of products sold except for $2,362, $2,542 and $2,783 in fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which relates primarily to office buildings and office equipment and is recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets – Intangible assets consist of goodwill, trademarks, dealer networks/customer relationships, design technology assets and non-compete agreements. Trademarks are being amortized on a straight-line basis over 15 to 25 years. Dealer networks/customer relationships are amortized on an accelerated basis up to 12 years, and design technology assets and non-compete agreements are amortized using the straight-line method over 2 to 15 years. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested at least annually for impairment. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment by applying a fair-value based test on an annual basis at April 30, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate a potential impairment.

Long-lived Assets

Long-lived Assets – Property, plant and equipment and identifiable intangibles that are amortized are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable from future cash flows. If the carrying value of a long-lived asset is impaired, an impairment charge is recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds its fair value.

Product Warranties

Product Warranties – Estimated warranty costs are provided at the time of sale of the related products. Warranty reserves are reviewed and adjusted as necessary on at least a quarterly basis.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – The allowance for doubtful accounts represents management’s estimate of probable credit losses in existing accounts receivable, as determined from a review of past due balances and other specific account information.

A summary of allowance for doubtful accounts activity is as follows:

	2015		2014		2013
Beginning balance	$	348	$	157	$	527
Net charged to expense		359		63		(47)
Write-offs, net of recoveries/payments		(67)		(72)		(130)
Acquisitions		643		200		–
Discontinued operations reclassification		–		–		(193)
Ending balance	$	1,283	$	348	$	157

Insurance Reserves

Insurance Reserves – Generally, the Company is self-insured for workers’ compensation, products liability and group medical insurance. Under these plans, liabilities are recognized for claims incurred, including those incurred but not reported. The liability for workers’ compensation claims is determined by the Company with the assistance of a third party administrator and actuary using various state statutes and historical claims experience. Group medical reserves are estimated using historical claims experience. The Company has a self-insured retention (“SIR”) for products liability and personal injury matters ranging from $500 to $7,500 per occurrence, depending on the product type and when the occurrence took place. Generally, any occurrence (as defined by our insurance policies) after March 31, 2015 is subject to the $500 SIR, while matters occurring after March 31, 2014 and through March 31, 2015 are subject to a $1,000 SIR. The Company has established a liability on our balance sheet for product liability and personal injury occurrences based on historical data, known cases and actuarial information. Currently, the Company maintains excess liability insurance aggregating $50,000 with outside insurance carriers to minimize our risks related to catastrophic claims in excess of our self-insured positions for products liability and personal injury matters.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition – Revenues from the sale of recreational vehicles are recorded primarily when all of the following conditions have been met:

1) An order for a product has been received from a dealer;

2) Written or oral approval for payment has been received from the dealer’s flooring institution, if applicable;

3) A common carrier signs the delivery ticket accepting responsibility for the product as agent for the dealer; and

4) The product is removed from the Company’s property for delivery to the dealer who placed the order.

These conditions are generally met when title passes, which is when vehicles are shipped to dealers in accordance with shipping terms, which are primarily FOB shipping point. Most sales are made to dealers financing their purchases under flooring arrangements with banks or finance companies. Certain shipments are sold to customers on credit or cash on delivery (“COD”) terms. The Company recognizes revenue on credit sales upon shipment and COD sales upon payment and delivery. Products are not sold on consignment, dealers do not have the right to return products and dealers are typically responsible for interest costs to floor plan lenders.

At the time of revenue recognition, amounts billed to dealers for delivery of product are recognized as revenue and the corresponding delivery expense charged to costs of products sold.

Revenues from the sale of extruded aluminum components are recognized when title to products and the risk of loss are transferred to the customer, which is generally upon shipment.

Dealer Volume Rebates, Sales Incentives and Advertising Costs

Dealer Volume Rebates, Sales Incentives and Advertising Costs – Estimated costs related to dealer volume rebates and sales incentives are accrued as a reduction of revenue at the later of the time products are sold or the date the rebate or incentive is offered. Advertising costs, which consist primarily of tradeshows and are expensed as incurred, were $12,515, $9,492 and $8,794 in fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Repurchase Agreements

Repurchase Agreements – The Company is contingently liable under terms of repurchase agreements with financial institutions providing inventory financing for certain dealers of certain of its products. These arrangements, which are customary in the industry, provide for the repurchase of products sold to dealers in the event of default by the dealer. The risk of loss from these agreements is spread over numerous dealers. In addition to the guarantee under these repurchase agreements, we may also be required to repurchase inventory relative to dealer terminations in certain states in accordance with state laws or regulatory requirements. The repurchase price is generally determined by the original sales price of the product and pre-defined curtailment arrangements and the Company typically resells the repurchased product at a discount from its repurchase price. The Company accounts for the guarantee under its repurchase agreements with our dealers’ financing institutions by estimating and deferring a portion of the related product sale that represents the estimated fair value of the repurchase obligation. The estimated fair value takes into account our estimate of the loss we will incur upon resale of any repurchases. This estimate is based on recent historical experience supplemented by management’s assessment of current economic and other conditions affecting our dealers. This deferred amount is included in our repurchase and guarantee reserve which is included in other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes – The objectives of accounting for income taxes are to recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. Judgment is required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. Fluctuations in the actual outcome of these tax consequences could materially impact our financial position or results of operations.

The Company recognizes liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step requires the Company to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to estimate such amounts, as the Company has to determine the probability of various possible outcomes. The Company reevaluates these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, effectively settled issues under audit, voluntary settlements and new audit activity. Such a change in recognition or measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision.

Significant judgment is required in determining the Company’s provision for income taxes, the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities and the valuation allowance recorded against the Company’s deferred tax assets, if any. Valuation allowances must be considered due to the uncertainty of realizing deferred tax assets. Companies must assess whether valuation allowances should be established against their deferred tax assets on a tax jurisdictional basis based on the consideration of all available evidence, using a more likely than not standard. The Company has evaluated the realizability of our deferred tax assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets which includes the assessment of the cumulative income over recent prior periods.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share – Basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding assuming dilution. The difference between basic EPS and diluted EPS is the result of outstanding stock options, unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units as follows:

	2015		2014		2013
Weighted average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share		53,166,206		53,270,076		53,005,576
Stock options, unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units		109,304		91,614		109,972
Weighted average shares outstanding assuming dilution		53,275,510		53,361,690		53,115,548

The Company excludes stock options, unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units that have an antidilutive effect from its calculation of weighted average shares outstanding assuming dilution, but had none at July 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.

Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-08 (“ASU 2014-08”), “Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity.” ASU 2014-08 raises the threshold for a disposal to qualify as a discontinued operation and requires new disclosures of both discontinued operations and certain other disposals that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation. Under the new guidance, the disposal of a component or group of components of a business will be reported as discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. For the Company, ASU 2014-08 is effective for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) of components that first occur after July 31, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued. The impact to the Company will depend on future disposals.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” which outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. This standard will supersede most current revenue recognition guidance. Under the new standard, entities are required to identify the contract with a customer, identify the separate performance obligations in the contract, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the separate performance obligations in the contract and recognize the appropriate amount of revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies each performance obligation. The standard is effective for fiscal years, and the interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The standard is effective for the Company in its fiscal year 2019 beginning on August 1, 2018. Entities have the option of using either retrospective transition or a modified approach in applying the new standard. The Company is currently evaluating the approach it will use to apply the new standard and the impact that the adoption of the new standard will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-11 (“ASU 2015-11”), “Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory.” ASU 2015-11 requires inventory measured using any method other than last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) or the retail inventory method to be subsequently measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value, rather than at the lower of cost or market. Under this ASU, subsequent measurement of inventory using the LIFO and retail inventory method is unchanged. ASU 2015-11 is effective prospectively for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. The standard is effective for the Company in its fiscal year 2018 beginning on August 1, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.