Discontinued Operations

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2011

Discontinued Operations [Abstract]

Discontinued Operations

4. Discontinued Operations

In October 2009, the Company unveiled a new business strategy to drive growth through a focus of efforts and resources on the unique strengths of the Harley-Davidson brand and to enhance productivity and profitability through continuous improvement. The Company's Board of Directors approved and the Company committed to the divestiture of MV as part of this strategy. The Company engaged a third party investment bank to assist with the marketing and sale of MV. During 2009, the Company recorded pre-tax impairment charges of $115.4 million related to MV. The 2009 impairment charges consisted of $85.5 million goodwill impairment, $19.8 million fixed asset impairment and $10.1 million intangible assets impairment.

At each subsequent reporting date in 2010 through the date of sale, the fair value less selling costs was re-assessed and additional impairment charges totaling $111.8 million were recognized in 2010. As the effort to sell MV progressed into 2010, adverse factors led to decreases in the fair value of MV. During 2010, challenging economic conditions continued to persist, negatively impacting the appetite of prospective buyers and the motorcycle industry as a whole. Information coming directly from the selling process, including discussions with the prospective buyers, indicated a fair value that was less than previously estimated.

On August 6, 2010, the Company concluded its sale of MV to MV Augusta Motor Holding S.r.l., a company controlled by the former owner of MV. Under the agreement relating to the sale, (1) the Company received nominal consideration in return for the transfer of MV and related assets; (2) the parties waived their respective rights under the stock purchase agreement and other documents related to the Company's purchase of MV in 2008, which included a waiver of the former owner's right to contingent earn-out consideration; and (3) the Company contributed 20.0 million Euros to MV as operating capital. The 20.0 million Euros contributed were factored into the Company's estimate of MV's fair value prior to the sale and was recognized in the 2010 impairment charges discussed above. As a result of the impairment charges recorded prior to the sale, the Company only incurred an immaterial loss on the date of sale, which was included in the loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, during the year ended December 31, 2010.

The following table summarizes the net revenue, pre-tax loss, net loss and loss per common share from discontinued operations for the period noted (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	Three months ended			Nine months ended
	September 26,			September 26,
	2010			2010
Revenue	$	3,983		$	48,563
Loss before income taxes	$	(5,645	)	$	(131,034	)
Net loss	$	(4,888	)	$	(108,434	)
Loss per common share	$	(0.02	)	$	(0.46	)

Included in the first nine months of 2010 operating loss was an impairment charge of $111.8 million, or $90.2 million net of tax, which represented the excess of net book value of the held-for-sale assets over the fair value less selling costs. The impairment charge is included in loss from discontinued operations and consisted of $32.3 million accounts receivable valuation allowance; $25.2 million inventory valuation; $26.9 million fixed asset impairment; $15.8 million intangible asset impairment; $2.6 million other asset valuation allowance; and $9.0 million of currency translation adjustment.

As of August 6, 2010, assets of discontinued operations that were sold consisted of $0.6 million of accounts receivable, net; $3.6 million of inventories; and $14.3 million of other assets. As of August 6, 2010, liabilities of discontinued operations that were sold consisted of $41.7 million of accounts payable and accrued liabilities and $16.6 million of other liabilities.