Nature Of Operations And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2014

Nature Of Operations And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Fiscal Year

Fiscal Year

The Company utilizes a modified 52/53-week fiscal year that ends on August 31 of each year.  Corresponding quarterly periods generally consist of 13-week periods that ended on November 30, 2013, March 1, 2014, and May 31, 2014 during fiscal 2014.  Unless otherwise noted, references to fiscal years apply to the 12 months ended August 31 of the specified year.

Basis Of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and our wholly-owned subsidiaries, which consist of Franklin Development Corp., and our offices in Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Korea (opened in January 2014).  Our international direct office in Korea was sold effective August 31, 2014.  Intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Pervasiveness Of Estimates

Pervasiveness of Estimates

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

Cash And Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Some of our cash is deposited with financial institutions located throughout the United States of America and at banks in foreign countries where we operate subsidiary offices, and at times may exceed insured limits.  We consider all highly liquid debt instruments with a maturity date of three months or less to be cash equivalents.  We did not hold a significant amount of investments that would be considered cash equivalent instruments at August 31, 2014 or 2013.

Inventories

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, cost being determined using the first-in, first-out method.  Elements of cost in inventories generally include raw materials, direct labor, and overhead.  Cash flows from the sales of inventory are included in cash flows provided by operating activities in our consolidated statements of cash flows.  Our inventories are comprised primarily of training materials, books, and related accessories, and consisted of the following (in thousands):

AUGUST 31,		2014		2013
Finished goods	$	6,295	$	4,253
Raw materials		72		68
	$	6,367	$	4,321

Provision is made to reduce excess and obsolete inventories to their estimated net realizable value.  In assessing the valuation of inventories, we make judgments regarding future demand requirements and compare these estimates with current and committed inventory levels.  Inventory requirements may change based on projected customer demand, training curriculum life-cycle changes, and other factors that could affect the valuation of our inventories.

Property And Equipment

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost.  Depreciation expense, which includes depreciation on our corporate campus that is accounted for as a financing obligation (Note 6), and the amortization of assets recorded under capital lease obligations, is calculated using the straight-line method over the lesser of the expected useful life of the asset or the contracted lease period.  We generally use the following depreciable lives for our major classifications of property and equipment: 

Description	Useful Lives
Buildings	20 years
Machinery and equipment	3–7 years
Computer hardware and software	3–5 years
Furniture, fixtures, and leasehold improvements	5–8 years

Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the useful economic life of the asset or the contracted lease period.  We expense costs for repairs and maintenance as incurred.  Gains and losses resulting from the sale of property and equipment are recorded in current operations.

Impairment Of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived tangible assets and definite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable.  We use an estimate of undiscounted future net cash flows of the assets over the remaining useful lives in determining whether the carrying value of the assets is recoverable.  If the carrying values of the assets exceed the anticipated future cash flows of the assets, we recognize an impairment loss equal to the difference between the carrying values of the assets and their estimated fair values.  Impairment of long-lived assets is assessed at the lowest levels for which there are identifiable cash flows that are independent from other groups of assets.  The evaluation of long-lived assets requires us to use estimates of future cash flows.  If forecasts and assumptions used to support the realizability of our long-lived tangible and definite-lived intangible assets change in the future, significant impairment charges could result that would adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets And Goodwill

Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Intangible assets that are deemed to have an indefinite life and acquired goodwill are not amortized, but rather are tested for impairment on an annual basis or more often if events or circumstances indicate that a potential impairment exists.  The Covey trade name intangible asset (Note 4) has been deemed to have an indefinite life.  This intangible asset is tested for impairment using qualitative factors or the present value of estimated royalties on trade name related revenues, which consist primarily of training seminars and work sessions, international licensee sales, and related products.  Based on the fiscal 2014 evaluation of the Covey trade name, we believe the fair value of the Covey trade name substantially exceeds its carrying value.  No impairment charges were recorded against the Covey trade name during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014, 2013, or 2012.

Based on our fiscal 2014 goodwill evaluation, we believe the fair value of the reporting unit, which was defined as the consolidated Company, substantially exceeded the carrying value of our goodwill.  No impairment charges to goodwill were recorded during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014, 2013, or 2012.

Capitalized Curriculum Development Costs

Capitalized Curriculum Development Costs

During the normal course of business, we develop training courses and related materials that we sell to our clients.  Capitalized curriculum development costs include certain expenditures to develop course materials such as video segments, course manuals, and other related materials.  In fiscal 2014, the majority of our capital spending on curriculum was for our re-created The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Signature Edition, which is our best-selling curriculum throughout the world.  Generally, curriculum costs are capitalized when there is a major revision to an existing course that requires a significant re-write of the course materials or curriculum.  Costs incurred to maintain existing offerings are expensed when incurred.  In addition, development costs incurred in the research and development of new curriculum and software products to be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed are expensed as incurred until economic feasibility has been established.

During fiscal 2014 and in prior years, we capitalized costs incurred for the development of various curriculums.  Capitalized development costs are generally amortized over a five-year life, which is based on numerous factors, including expected cycles of major changes to our content.  Capitalized curriculum development costs are reported as a component of other long-term assets in our consolidated balance sheets and totaled $12.4 million and $7.4 million at August 31, 2014 and 2013.  Amortization of capitalized curriculum development costs is reported as a component of cost of sales.

Accrued Liabilities

Accrued Liabilities

Significant components of our accrued liabilities were as follows (in thousands):

AUGUST 31,		2014		2013
Unearned revenue	$	10,350	$	7,063
Accrued compensation		10,336		11,804
Intellectual property royalties		1,468		1,866
NinetyFive 5 acquisition payable		-		2,250
Other accrued liabilities		7,432		8,157
	$	29,586	$	31,140

Foreign Currency Translation And Transactions

Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions

The functional currencies of our foreign operations are the reported local currencies.  Translation adjustments result from translating our foreign subsidiaries’ financial statements into United States dollars.  The balance sheet accounts of our foreign subsidiaries are translated into United States dollars using the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date.  Revenues and expenses are translated using average exchange rates for each month during the fiscal year.  The resulting translation gains or losses were recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity.  Foreign currency transaction gains and losses totaled a loss of $0.1 million, a gain of $0.2 million, and a loss of $0.1 million for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.

Derivative Instruments

Derivative Instruments

During the normal course of business, we are exposed to risks associated with foreign currency exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations.  Foreign currency exchange rate exposures result from the Company’s operating results, assets, and liabilities that are denominated in currencies other than the United States dollar.  In order to limit our exposure to these elements, we may make limited use of derivative instruments.  Each derivative instrument that is designated as a hedge instrument is recorded on the balance sheet at its fair value.  Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that qualify for hedge accounting are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, which is a component of shareholders’ equity.  Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that are not designated as hedge instruments are immediately recognized as a component of selling, general, and administrative expense in our consolidated income statements.

Sales Taxes

Sales Taxes

We collect sales tax on qualifying transactions with customers based upon applicable sales tax rates in various jurisdictions.  We account for sales taxes collected using the net method; accordingly, we do not include sales taxes in net sales reported in our consolidated income statements.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue when: 1) persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, 2) delivery of product has occurred or services have been rendered, 3) the price to the customer is fixed or determinable, and 4) collectability is reasonably assured.  For training and service sales, these conditions are generally met upon presentation of the training seminar or delivery of the consulting services.  For product sales, these conditions are generally met upon shipment of the product to the customer.

Some of our training and consulting contracts contain multiple element deliverables that include training along with other products and services.  For transactions that contain more than one element, we recognize revenue in accordance with the guidance for multiple element arrangements using the relative selling price method.

Our international strategy includes the use of licensees in countries where we do not have a wholly-owned direct office.  Licensee companies are unrelated entities that have been granted a license to translate our content and curriculum, adapt the content and curriculum to the local culture, and sell our content in a specific country or region.  Licensees are required to pay us royalties based upon a percentage of their sales to clients.  We recognize royalty income each period based upon the sales information reported to us from our licensees.  Licensee royalty revenues are included as a component of training sales and totaled $13.8 million, $12.9 million, and $11.8 million for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012.

Revenue is recognized as the net amount to be received after deducting estimated amounts for discounts and product returns.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation

We record the compensation expense for all share-based payments to employees and non-employees, including grants of stock options and the compensatory elements of our employee stock purchase plan, in our consolidated income statements based upon their fair values over the requisite service period.  For more information on our share-based compensation plans, refer to Note 11.

Shipping And Handling Fees And Costs

Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs

All shipping and handling fees billed to customers are recorded as a component of net sales.  All costs incurred related to the shipping and handling of products are recorded in cost of sales.

Advertising Costs

Advertising Costs

Costs for newspaper, television, radio, and other advertising are expensed as incurred.  Advertising costs included in selling, general, and administrative expenses totaled $7.5 million, $7.0 million, and $5.3 million for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Our income tax provision has been determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes.  Under this approach, deferred income taxes represent the future tax consequences expected to occur when the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid.  The income tax provision represents income taxes paid or payable for the current year plus the change in deferred taxes during the year.  Deferred income taxes result from differences between the financial and tax bases of our assets and liabilities and are adjusted for tax rates and tax laws when changes are enacted.  A valuation allowance is provided against deferred income tax assets when it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized.  Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized as components of income tax expense in our consolidated income statements.

We may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position.  The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

We provide for income taxes, net of applicable foreign tax credits, on temporary differences in our investment in foreign subsidiaries, which consist primarily of unrepatriated earnings.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income includes changes to equity accounts that were not the result of transactions with shareholders.  Comprehensive income is comprised of net income or loss and other comprehensive income and loss items.  Our other comprehensive income and losses generally consist of changes in the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax.

Accounting Pronouncements Issued Not Yet Adopted

Accounting Pronouncements Issued Not Yet Adopted

On May 28, 2014 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  This new standard was issued in conjunction with the International Accounting Standards Board and is designed to create a single, principles-based process by which all businesses must calculate revenue.  The new standard replaces numerous individual, industry-specific revenue rules found in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and is required to be adopted in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and for interim periods therein.  The new standard may be applied using the “full retrospective” or “modified retrospective” approach.  As of August 31, 2014, we have not yet determined the method of adoption nor the impact that ASU No. 2014-09 will have on our reported revenue or results of operations.