Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 27, 2015

Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Papa John’s and its subsidiaries. The results of our Company-owned operations in China were consolidated one month in arrears until fiscal 2013. The inclusion of the additional month of operations in fiscal 2013 resulted in $2.1 million of incremental international revenues and an incremental loss before income taxes of $215,000 reported in the international segment. This change in our consolidation policy did not have a material impact to our financial results for any of the years presented. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Variable Interest Entity

Variable Interest Entity

Papa John’s domestic restaurants, both Company-owned and franchised, participate in Papa John’s Marketing Fund, Inc. (PJMF), a nonstock corporation designed to operate at break-even for the purpose of designing and administering advertising and promotional programs for all participating domestic restaurants. PJMF is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) as it does not have sufficient equity to fund its operations without ongoing financial support and contributions from its members. Based on the ownership and governance structure and operating procedures of PJMF, we have determined that we do not have the power to direct the most significant activities of PJMF and are therefore not the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, consolidation of PJMF is not appropriate.

Fiscal Year

Fiscal Year

Our fiscal year ends on the last Sunday in December of each year. All fiscal years presented consist of 52 weeks.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant items that are subject to such estimates and assumptions include allowance for doubtful accounts and notes receivable, intangible assets, online customer loyalty program obligation, insurance reserves and tax reserves. Although management bases its estimates on historical experience and assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, actual results could significantly differ from these estimates.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Retail sales from Company-owned restaurants and franchise royalties, which are based on a percentage of franchise restaurant sales, are recognized as revenues when the products are delivered to or carried out by customers. Franchise fees are recognized when a franchised restaurant begins operations, at which time we have performed our obligations related to such fees. Fees received pursuant to development agreements which grant the right to develop franchised restaurants in future periods in specific geographic areas are deferred and recognized on a pro rata basis as franchised restaurants subject to the development agreements begin operations.

The Company offers various incentive programs for franchisees including royalty incentives, new restaurant opening (i.e. development incentives) and other various support initiatives. Royalties, franchise and development fees and commissary sales are reduced to reflect any incentives earned or granted under these programs that are in the form of discounts. Direct mail advertising discounts are also periodically offered. Other sales are reduced to reflect these advertising discounts. Other development incentives for opening restaurants are offered in the form of Company equipment at no cost. This equipment is amortized over the term of the agreement, which is generally two to three years, and is recognized in other general expenses in our consolidated statements of income.

Domestic production and distribution revenues are comprised of food, promotional items and supplies sold to franchised restaurants located in the United States and are recognized as revenue upon shipment of the related products to the franchisees. Fees for information services, including software maintenance fees, help desk fees and online ordering fees are recognized as revenue as such services are provided and are included in other sales. Insurance commissions are recognized as revenue over the term of the policy period and are included in other sales.

International revenues are comprised of Company-owned restaurant sales, royalties, franchise fees and revenues for the production and distribution of food to international franchisees. Revenues are recognized consistently with the policies applied for revenues generated in the United States.

Advertising and Related Costs

Advertising and Related Costs

Advertising and related costs include the costs of domestic Company-owned local restaurant activities such as mail coupons, door hangers and promotional items and contributions to PJMF and various local market cooperative advertising funds (“Co-op Funds”). Contributions by domestic Company-owned and franchised restaurants to PJMF and the Co-op Funds are based on an established percentage of monthly restaurant revenues. PJMF is responsible for developing and conducting marketing and advertising for the domestic Papa John’s system. The Co-op Funds are responsible for developing and conducting advertising activities in a specific market, including the placement of electronic and print materials developed by PJMF. We recognize domestic Company-owned restaurant contributions to PJMF and the Co-op Funds in which we do not have a controlling interest in the period in which the contribution accrues. The net assets of the Co-op Funds in which we possess majority voting rights, and thus control the cooperatives, are included in our consolidated balance sheets.

Leases

Leases

Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected life of the lease term. A lease term often includes option periods, available at the inception of the lease.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

Compensation expense for equity grants is estimated on the grant date, net of projected forfeitures, and is recognized over the vesting period (generally in equal installments over three years). Restricted stock is valued based on the market price of the Company’s shares on the date of grant. Stock options are valued using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. Our specific assumptions for estimating the fair value of options are included in Note 18.

Cash Equivalents

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with maturity of three months or less at date of purchase. These investments are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable

Substantially all accounts receivable are due from franchisees for purchases of food, paper products, restaurant equipment, printing and promotional items, risk management services, information systems and related services, and royalties. Credit is extended based on an evaluation of the franchisee’s financial condition and collateral is generally not required. A reserve for uncollectible accounts is established as deemed necessary based upon overall accounts receivable aging levels and a specific review of accounts for franchisees with known financial difficulties. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after recovery efforts have ceased.

Notes Receivable

Notes Receivable

The Company provides financing to select franchisees principally for use in the construction and development of their restaurants and for the purchase of restaurants from the Company or other franchisees. Notes receivable bear interest at fixed or floating rates and are generally secured by the assets of each restaurant and the ownership interests in the franchise. We establish an allowance based on a review of each borrower’s economic performance and underlying collateral value. Note balances are charged off against the allowance after recovery efforts have ceased.

Inventories

Inventories

Inventories, which consist of food products, paper goods and supplies, smallwares, and printing and promotional items, are stated at the lower of cost, determined under the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method, or market.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets (generally five to ten years for restaurant, commissary and other equipment, and 20 to 40 years for buildings and improvements). Leasehold improvements are amortized over the terms of the respective leases, including the first renewal period (generally five to ten years).

Depreciation expense was $39.7 million in 2015, $39.1 million in 2014 and $34.5 million in 2013.

Deferred Costs

Deferred Costs

We defer certain information systems development and related costs that meet established criteria. Amounts deferred, which are included in property and equipment, are amortized principally over periods not exceeding five years beginning in the month subsequent to completion of the related information systems project. Total costs deferred were approximately $2.6 million in 2015, $3.3 million in 2014 and $3.3 million in 2013. The unamortized information systems development costs approximated $9.1 million and $8.7 million as of December 27, 2015 and December 28, 2014, respectively.

Intangible Assets - Goodwill

Intangible Assets — Goodwill

We evaluate goodwill annually in the fourth quarter or whenever we identify certain triggering events or circumstances that would more-likely-than-not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. Such tests are completed separately with respect to the goodwill of each of our reporting units, which includes our domestic Company-owned restaurants, China and the United Kingdom (“PJUK”).  We may perform a qualitative assessment or move directly to the quantitative assessment for any reporting unit in any period if we believe that it is more efficient or if impairment indicators exist.

We elected to perform a qualitative assessment for our domestic Company-owned restaurants and PJUK reporting units in 2015. As a result of our qualitative analyses, we determined that it was more-likely-than-not that the fair values of our reporting units were greater than their carrying amounts. We performed a quantitative analysis for the goodwill of our China reporting unit using a market approach. The market approach considered earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) multiples that a potential buyer would pay based on third-party transactions in similar markets. The results of our quantitative assessment indicated the fair value significantly exceeded the carrying amount. Subsequent to completing our goodwill impairment tests, no indications of impairment were identified.

Deferred Income Tax Accounts and Tax Reserves

Deferred Income Tax Accounts and Tax Reserves

We are subject to income taxes in the United States and several foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes and the related assets and liabilities. The provision for income taxes includes income taxes paid, currently payable or receivable and those deferred.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities, and are measured using enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences reverse. Deferred tax assets are also recognized for the estimated future effects of tax loss carryforwards. The effect on deferred taxes of changes in tax rates is recognized in the period in which the new tax is enacted. As a result, our effective tax rate may fluctuate. Valuation allowances are established when necessary on a jurisdictional basis to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts we expect to realize.

Tax authorities periodically audit the Company. We record reserves and related interest and penalties for identified exposures as income tax expense. We evaluate these issues and adjust for events, such as statute of limitations expirations, court rulings or audit settlements, which may impact our ultimate payment for such exposures.

Insurance Reserves

Insurance Reserves

Our insurance programs for workers’ compensation, owned and non-owned automobiles, general liability, property, and health insurance coverage provided to our employees are funded by the Company up to certain retention levels under our retention programs. Retention limits generally range from $100,000 to $500,000 per occurrence.

Losses are accrued based upon undiscounted estimates of the liability for claims incurred using certain third-party actuarial projections and our claims loss experience. The estimated insurance claims losses could be significantly affected should the frequency or ultimate cost of claims differ significantly from historical trends used to estimate the insurance reserves recorded by the Company. See Note 12 for additional information on our insurance reserves.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments

We recognize all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. At inception and on an ongoing basis, we assess whether each derivative that qualifies for hedge accounting continues to be highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of the hedged item. If the derivative meets the hedge criteria as defined by certain accounting standards, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are either offset against the change in fair value of assets, liabilities or firm commitments through earnings or recognized in AOCI until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value, if any, is immediately recognized in earnings.

We recognized a loss of $1.8 million ($1.2 million after tax) in 2015, a loss of $261,000 ($164,000 after tax) in 2014 and a loss of $51,000 ($32,000 after tax) in 2013, in AOCI for the net change in the fair value of our interest rate swaps. See Note 9 for additional information on our debt and credit arrangements.

Noncontrolling Interests

Noncontrolling Interests

The Company has the following four joint ventures in which there are noncontrolling interests:

Joint Venture	Redemption Feature	Location within the Consolidated Balance Sheet	Recorded value
Star Papa, LP	Redeemable	Temporary equity	Carrying value
PJ Denver, LLC	Redeemable	Temporary equity	Redemption value
Colonel’s Limited, LLC	No redemption feature	Permanent equity	Carrying value
PJ Minnesota, LLC	No redemption feature	Permanent equity	Carrying value

Consolidated net income is required to be reported separately at amounts attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interest. Additionally, disclosures are required to clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent company and the interests of the noncontrolling owners, including a disclosure on the face of the consolidated statements of income attributable to the noncontrolling interest holder.

See Note 6 for additional information regarding noncontrolling interests.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation

The local currency is the functional currency for our subsidiaries located in the United Kingdom, Mexico and China. Revenues and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars using monthly average exchange rates, while assets and liabilities are translated using year-end exchange rates. The resulting translation adjustments are included as a component of AOCI net of income taxes.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Income Taxes

In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes” (Accounting Standards Update (“ASU” 2015-17). ASU 2015-17 requires the Company to classify deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent amounts in the consolidated balance sheets. Such amounts were previously required to be classified as current and noncurrent assets and liabilities. The Company is required to adopt the provisions of ASU 2015-17 for fiscal 2017; however, the Company elected to retrospectively adopt the provisions for fiscal 2015, as allowed, and reclassified all previously reported current amounts as long-term. The consolidated balance sheet at December 28, 2014 includes a reclassification of $8.2 million from the previously reported current deferred income tax asset to a long-term deferred income tax liability.

Deferred Debt Issuance Costs

In April 2015, the FASB issued “Interest — Imputation of Interest: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” (ASU 2015-03). This update will require the Company to report deferred debt issuance costs as a reduction to long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company currently reports these costs, which approximate $900,000 in 2015 and $1.2 million in 2014 as other noncurrent assets in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company will adopt ASU 2015-03 beginning in fiscal 2016 for all retrospective periods, as required.

Revenue from Contract with Customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (ASU 2014-09), a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard that will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. This update requires companies to recognize revenue at amounts that reflect the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services at the time of transfer. In doing so, companies will need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under today’s guidance. Such estimates may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. Companies can either apply a full retrospective adoption or a modified retrospective adoption.

We are required to adopt the new requirements in the first quarter of 2018. We are currently evaluating the method of adoption and impact of the new requirements on our consolidated financial statements. We currently do not believe the impact will be significant.

Reclassification

Reclassification

Certain prior year amounts within cash flows provided by operating activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.