Basis of Financial Statement Presentation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates, assumptions, and judgments based on historical data and other assumptions that management believes are reasonable. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. In addition, they affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

The Company’s judgments are based on management’s assessment as to the effect certain estimates, assumptions, or future trends or events may have on the financial condition and results of operations reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. It is important that readers of these unaudited financial statements understand that actual results could differ from these estimates, assumptions, and judgments.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

New accounting standards adopted

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which supersedes existing accounting standards for revenue recognition and creates a single framework. The new guidance is effective for the Company's fiscal year that begins on April 1, 2017 and interim periods within that fiscal year and requires either a retrospective or a modified retrospective approach to adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures, as well as the available transition methods. Early adoption is prohibited.

There are currently no other accounting standards that have been issued that will have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption.

Restricted Cash

As discussed in Note 3, Debt, the Company received a $24.0 million prepayment from an original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) and, through June 30, 2014, utilized $13.0 million for the purchase of manufacturing equipment. The remaining proceeds of $11.0 million are classified as restricted cash at June 30, 2014.

A bank guarantee in the amount of €1.5 million ($2.0 million) was issued by a European bank on behalf of the Company in August 2006 in conjunction with the establishment of a Value-Added Tax (“VAT”) registration in The Netherlands. Accordingly, a deposit was placed with the European bank for €1.7 million ($2.3 million). While the deposit is in KEMET’s name, and KEMET receives all interest earned by this deposit, the deposit is pledged to the European bank, and the bank can use the funds if a valid claim against the bank guarantee is made. The bank guarantee will remain valid until it is discharged by the beneficiary.

Fair Value Measurement

The Company utilizes three levels of inputs to measure the fair value of (a) nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the Company’s consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually) and (b) all financial assets and liabilities. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

The first two inputs are considered observable and the last is considered unobservable. The levels of inputs are as follows:


•	Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.


•	Level 2—Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.


•	Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market.

Warrant

As of June 30, 2014 and March 31, 2014, 8.4 million shares were subject to the warrant held by K Equity, LLC.

Revenue Recognition

The Company ships products to customers based upon firm orders and revenue is recognized when the sales process is complete. This occurs when products are shipped to the customer in accordance with the terms of an agreement of sale, there is a fixed or determinable selling price, title and risk of loss have been transferred and collectability is reasonably assured. Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales.

A portion of sales is related to products designed to meet customer specific requirements. These products typically have stricter tolerances making them useful to the specific customer requesting the product and to customers with similar or less stringent requirements. The Company recognizes revenue when title to the products transfers to the customer.

A portion of sales is made to distributors under agreements allowing certain rights of return and price protection on unsold merchandise held by distributors. The Company's distributor policy includes inventory price protection and "ship-from-stock and debit" ("SFSD") programs common in the industry.

KEMET's SFSD program provides authorized distributors with the flexibility to meet marketplace prices by allowing them, upon a pre-approved case-by-case basis, to adjust their purchased inventory cost to correspond with current market demand. Requests for SFSD adjustments are considered on an individual basis, require a pre-approved cost adjustment quote from their local KEMET sales representative and apply only to a specific customer, part, specified special price amount, specified quantity, and is only valid for a specific period of time. To estimate potential SFSD adjustments corresponding with current period sales, KEMET records a sales reserve based on historical SFSD credits, distributor inventory levels, and certain accounting assumptions, all of which are reviewed quarterly.

Most of the Company's distributors have the right to return to KEMET a certain portion of the purchased inventory, which, in general, does not exceed 6% of their purchases from the previous fiscal quarter. KEMET estimates future returns based on historical patterns of the distributors and records an allowance on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company also offers volume based rebates.

The establishment of sales allowances is recognized as a component of the line item "Net sales" on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, while the associated reserves are included in the line item "Accounts receivable, net" on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Estimates used in determining sales allowances are subject to various factors. This includes, but is not limited to, changes in economic conditions, pricing changes, product demand, inventory levels in the supply chain, the effects of technological change, and other variables that might result in changes to the Company's estimates.

The Company provides a limited warranty to customers that the Company’s products meet certain specifications. The warranty period is generally limited to one year, and the Company’s liability under the warranty is generally limited to a replacement of the product or refund of the purchase price of the product. Warranty costs as a percentage of net sales were 1.0% or less for the quarters ended June 30, 2014 and 2013. The Company recognizes warranty costs when they are both probable and reasonably estimable.

- Definition

Entity's cash and cash equivalents accounting policy with respect to restricted balances. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or company statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits.

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for major classes of inventories, bases of stating inventories (for example, lower of cost or market), methods by which amounts are added and removed from inventory classes (for example, FIFO, LIFO, or average cost), loss recognition on impairment of inventories, and situations in which inventories are stated above cost. If inventory is carried at cost, this disclosure includes the nature of the cost elements included in inventory.

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for revenue recognition. If the entity has different policies for different types of revenue transactions, the policy for each material type of transaction is generally disclosed. If a sales transaction has multiple element arrangements (for example, delivery of multiple products, services or the rights to use assets) the disclosure may indicate the accounting policy for each unit of accounting as well as how units of accounting are determined and valued. The disclosure may encompass important judgment as to appropriateness of principles related to recognition of revenue. The disclosure also may indicate the entity's treatment of any unearned or deferred revenue that arises from the transaction.

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