Update to Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 29, 2019

Update to Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed 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 condensed 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, contract assets and contract liabilities, including the online customer loyalty program obligation, right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, gift card breakage, 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.

Restatement of Previously Issued Consolidated Financial Statements for Immaterial Error Correction

Restatement of Previously Issued Consolidated Financial Statements for Immaterial Error Correction

Papa John’s domestic restaurants, both Company-owned and franchised, participate in Papa John’s Marketing Fund, Inc. (“PJMF”), a nonstock corporation that is designed to break even as it spends all annual contributions received from the system. PJMF collects a percentage of revenues from Company-owned and franchised restaurants in the United States for the purpose of designing and administering advertising and promotional programs. PJMF is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) that funds its operations with ongoing financial support and contributions from the domestic restaurants, of which approximately 80% are franchised.

During the first quarter of 2019, the Company reassessed the governance structure and operating procedures of PJMF and determined that the Company has the power to control certain significant activities of PJMF, as defined by Accounting Standards Codification 810 (“ASC 810”), Consolidations. Therefore, the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE, and per ASC 810, must consolidate the VIE. Prior to 2019, the Company did not consolidate PJMF. The Company has concluded the previous accounting policy to not consolidate PJMF was an immaterial error and has determined that PJMF should be consolidated. The Company has corrected this immaterial error by restating the 2018 condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included herein to include PJMF. See Note 16 for the immaterial impacts of this error correction in fiscal year 2018.

Noncontrolling Interests

Noncontrolling Interests

Papa John’s has four joint venture arrangements in which there are noncontrolling interests held by third parties that include 192 restaurants at September 29, 2019. At September 30, 2018, there were 183 restaurants held in joint ventures.

We are required to report the consolidated net income at amounts attributable to the Company and the noncontrolling interests. Additionally, disclosures are required to clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the Company and the interests of the noncontrolling owners, including a disclosure on the face of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations attributable to the noncontrolling interest holders.

The income before income taxes attributable to these joint ventures for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2019 and September 30, 2018 was as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 29,		September 30,		September 29,		September 30,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Papa John’s International, Inc.	$	213	$	1,512	$	1,385	$	4,384
Noncontrolling interests		(128)		439		327		1,956
Total income before income taxes	$	85	$	1,951	$	1,712	$	6,340

The following summarizes the redemption feature, location and related accounting within the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for these joint venture arrangements:

Type of Joint Venture Arrangement	Location within the Balance Sheets	Recorded Value
Joint venture with no redemption feature	Permanent equity	Carrying value
Joint ventures with option to require the Company to purchase the noncontrolling interest - not currently redeemable or redemption not probable	Temporary equity	Carrying value

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Other Revenues

Franchise Marketing Fund revenues represent contributions collected by PJMF and various other international and domestic marketing funds (“Co-op” or “Co-operative”) where we have determined for purposes of accounting that we have control over the significant activities of the funds. PJMF funds its operations with ongoing financial support and contributions from the domestic restaurants, of which approximately 80% are franchised restaurant members. Contributions are based on a percentage of monthly restaurant sales and are billed monthly. Advertising fund contributions and expenditures are reported on a gross basis in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. For interim reporting purposes, PJMF and Co-op advertising costs are accrued and expensed when the related franchise advertising revenues are recognized.

The Company and its franchisees sell gift cards that are redeemable for products in our restaurants. A subsidiary of PJMF manages the gift card program, and therefore, collects all funds from the activation of gift cards and reimburses franchisees for the redemption of gift cards in their restaurants. A liability for unredeemed gift cards is included in Deferred revenue in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Gift card redemption revenues, which are based on a percentage of the franchise restaurant sales generated by the gift card, are recognized as gift cards are redeemed by customers.

There are no expiration dates and we do not deduct non-usage fees from outstanding gift cards. While the franchisees continue to honor all gift cards presented for payment, the likelihood of redemption may be determined to be remote for

certain cards due to long periods of inactivity. In these circumstances, the Company recognizes breakage revenue for amounts not subject to unclaimed property laws. Based upon our analysis of historical gift card redemption patterns, we can reasonably estimate the amount of gift cards for which redemption is remote. Breakage revenue is recognized over time in proportion to estimated redemption patterns as Other revenue. Commissions on gift cards sold by third parties are recorded as a reduction to Deferred revenue and a reduction to Other revenue based upon estimated redemption patterns.

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 Papa John’s 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. We use an estimated annual effective rate based on expected annual income to determine our quarterly provision for income taxes. The effective income tax rate includes the estimated domestic state effective income tax rate and applicable foreign income tax rates. The effective income tax rate is also impacted by various permanent items and credits, net of any related valuation allowances, and can vary based on changes in estimated annual income. Discrete items are recorded in the quarter in which they occur.

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 attribute carryforwards (e.g., net operating losses, capital losses, and foreign tax credits). The effect on deferred taxes of changes in tax rates is recognized in the period in which the new tax rate is enacted. Valuation allowances are established when necessary on a jurisdictional basis to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts we expect to realize. As of September 29, 2019, we had a net deferred liability of approximately $1.1 million.

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 on a quarterly basis to adjust for events, such as statute of limitations expirations, court or state rulings or audit settlements, which may impact our ultimate payment for such exposures.

Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures

Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures

The Company is required to determine the fair value of financial assets and liabilities based on the price that would be received to sell the asset or paid to transfer the liability to a market participant. Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. The fair value of certain assets and liabilities approximates carrying value because of the short-term nature of the accounts, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, net of allowances, and accounts payable. The carrying value of our notes receivable, net of allowances, also approximates fair value. The fair value of the amounts outstanding under our term debt and revolving credit facility approximate their carrying values due to the variable market-based interest rate (Level 2).

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are required to be classified and disclosed in one of the following categories:

● Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

● Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

● Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

Our financial assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 29, 2019 and December 30, 2018 are as follows (in thousands):

	Carrying		Fair Value Measurements
	Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
September 29, 2019
Financial assets:
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies (a)	$	31,361	$	31,361	$	—	$	—
Financial liabilities:
Interest rate swaps (b)		7,950		—		7,950		—
December 30, 2018
Financial assets:
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies (a)	$	27,751	$	27,751	$	—	$	—
Interest rate swaps (b)		4,905		—		4,905		—

(a) Represents life insurance policies held in our non-qualified deferred compensation plan.

(b) The fair value of our interest rate swaps is based on the sum of all future net present value cash flows. The future cash flows are derived based on the terms of our interest rate swaps, as well as considering published discount factors, and projected London Interbank Offered Rates (“LIBOR”).

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Adopted

Leases

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” (“ASU 2016-02”), which amends leasing guidance by requiring companies to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all operating and financing leases with lease terms greater than twelve months. The lease liability is equal to the present value of lease payments. The right-of-use lease asset is based on the lease liability, subject to adjustment for prepaid and deferred rent and tenant incentives. For income statement purposes, leases will continue to be classified as operating or financing with lease expense in both cases calculated substantially the same as under the prior leasing guidance.

The Company adopted Topic 842 as of December 31, 2018 (the first day of fiscal 2019). See Notes 3 and 4 for additional information.

Improvements to Non-employee Share-Based Payment Accounting

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, “Improvements to Non-employee Share-based Payment Accounting” (“ASU 2018-07”). ASU 2018-07 amends ASC 718, “Compensation - Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”), to simplify the accounting for share-based payments granted to non-employees for goods and services. ASU 2018-07 supersedes ASC 505-50, “Equity-Based Payments to Non-employees” (“ASC 505-50”) and aligns much of the accounting for share-based payments granted to non-employees for goods and services with the accounting for share-based payments granted to employees. ASU 2018-07 was effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2019. There was no significant impact at adoption.

Accounting Standards to be Adopted in Future Periods

Financial Instruments – Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which requires measurement and recognition of expected versus incurred losses for financial assets held. ASU 2016-13 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently assessing the impact of adopting this standard on our consolidated financial statements.

Cloud Computing

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15 “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract,” which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs in cloud computing arrangements with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software.  ASU 2018-15 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. Companies can choose to adopt the new guidance prospectively or retrospectively. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the effects of this pronouncement on our consolidated financial statements.