Summary of Accounting Policies - (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 28, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Principles of consolidation and presentation

Principles of consolidation and presentation

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Snap-on Incorporated and its wholly owned and majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively, “Snap-on” or the “company”). These financial statements should be read in conjunction with, and have been prepared in conformity with, the accounting principles reflected in the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Snap-on’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019 (“2019 year end”), as updated below.

The company’s 2020 fiscal year, which ends on January 2, 2021, will contain 53 weeks of operating results, with the additional week occurring in the fourth quarter. The company’s 2019 fiscal year contained 52 weeks of operating results. Snap-on’s 2020 fiscal first quarter ended on March 28, 2020; the 2019 fiscal first quarter ended on March 30, 2019. The company’s 2020 and 2019 fiscal first quarters each contained 13 weeks of operating results. Snap-on’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for the fair presentation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three month periods ended March 28, 2020, and March 30, 2019, have been made. Interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year.

With the adoption of ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), the company has updated the following policies, effective December 29, 2019, the beginning of Snap-on’s fiscal year 2020:

Financial services revenue: Snap-on generates revenue from various financing programs that include: (i) installment sales and lease contracts arising from franchisees’ customers and Snap-on customers who require financing for the purchase or lease of tools and diagnostic and equipment products on an extended-term payment plan; and (ii) business loans and vehicle leases to franchisees. These financing programs are offered through Snap-on’s wholly owned finance subsidiaries. Financial services revenue consists primarily of interest income on finance and contract receivables and is recognized over the life of the underlying contracts, with interest computed primarily on the average daily balances of the underlying contracts.

The decision to finance through Snap-on or another financing source is solely at the election of the customer. When assessing customers for potential financing, Snap-on considers various factors regarding ability to pay, including the customers’ financial condition, past payment experience, and credit bureau and proprietary Snap-on credit model information, as well as the value of the underlying collateral. For finance and contract receivables, Snap-on assesses quantitative and qualitative factors through the use of credit quality indicators consisting primarily of collection experience and related internal metrics. Delinquency is the primary indicator of credit quality for finance and contract receivables. Snap-on conducts monthly reviews of credit and collection performance for both the finance and contract receivable portfolios, focusing on data such as delinquency trends, nonaccrual receivables, and write-off and recovery activity.

Receivables and allowances for credit losses: All trade, finance and contract receivables are reported on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at their amortized cost adjusted for any write-offs and net of allowances for credit losses. The amortized costs for finance and contract receivables is the amount originated adjusted for applicable accrued interest and net of deferred fees or costs, net of collections and write-offs.

Snap-on maintains allowances for credit losses, which represent an estimate of expected losses over the remaining contractual life of its receivables considering current market conditions and estimates for supportable forecasts when appropriate. The estimate is a result of the company’s ongoing assessments and evaluations of collectability, historical loss experience, and future expectations in estimating credit losses in each of its receivable portfolios (trade, finance and contract receivables). For trade receivables, Snap-on uses historical loss experience rates by portfolio and applies them to a related aging analysis while also considering customer and/or economic risk where appropriate. For finance receivables, Snap-on uses a vintage loss experience analysis. For contract receivables, a weighted-average remaining maturity method is primarily used. Determination of the proper amount of allowances by portfolio requires management to exercise judgment about the timing, frequency and severity of credit losses that could materially affect the provision for credit losses and, as a result, net earnings. The allowances take into consideration numerous quantitative and qualitative factors that include receivable type, historical loss experience, loss migration, delinquency trends, collection experience, current economic conditions, estimates for supportable forecasts, when appropriate, and credit risk characteristics.

Snap-on evaluates the credit risk of the customer when extending credit based on a combination of various financial and qualitative factors that may affect its customers’ ability to pay. These factors may include the customer’s financial condition, past payment experience, and credit bureau and proprietary Snap-on credit model information, as well as the value of the underlying collateral.

Management performs detailed reviews of its receivables on a monthly and/or quarterly basis to assess the adequacy of the allowances and to determine if any impairment has occurred. Monthly reviews of credit and collection performance are conducted for both its finance and contract receivable portfolios focusing on data such as delinquency trends, non-performing assets, and write-off and recovery activity. These reviews allow for the formulation of collection strategies and potential collection policy modifications in response to changing risk profiles in the finance and contract receivable portfolios. A receivable may have credit losses when it is expected that all amounts related to the receivable will not be collected according to the contractual terms of the agreement. Amounts determined to be uncollectable are charged directly against the allowances, while amounts recovered on previously written-off accounts increase the allowances. For both finance and contract receivables, net write-offs include the principal amount of losses written off as well as written-off interest and fees, and recourse from franchisees on finance receivables. Recovered interest and fees previously written off are recorded through the allowances for credit losses and increase the allowance. Finance receivables are assessed for write-off when an account becomes 120 days past due and are written off typically within 60 days of asset repossession. Contract receivables related to equipment leases are generally written off when an account becomes 150 days past due, while contract receivables related to franchise finance and van leases are generally written off up to 180 days past the asset return date. For finance and contract receivables, customer bankruptcies are generally written off upon notification that the associated debt is not being reaffirmed or, in any event, no later than 180 days past due. Changes to the allowances for credit losses are maintained through adjustments to the provision for credit losses, which are charged to current period earnings.

Actual amounts as of the balance sheet dates may be materially different than the amounts reported in future periods due to the uncertainty in the estimation process. Also, future amounts could differ materially from those estimates due to changes in circumstances after the balance sheet date.

Snap-on does not believe that its trade, finance or contract receivables represent significant concentrations of credit risk because of the diversified portfolio of individual customers and geographical areas. See Note 4 for further information on receivables and allowances for credit losses.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments

The fair value of the company’s derivative financial instruments is generally determined using quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities. The carrying value of the company’s non-derivative financial instruments either approximates fair value, due to their short-term nature, or the amount disclosed for fair value is based upon a discounted cash flow analysis or quoted market values. See Note 10 for further information on financial instruments.

New Accounting Standards

New Accounting Standards

The following new accounting pronouncements were adopted by Snap-on in fiscal year 2020:

On December 29, 2019, the beginning of Snap-on’s fiscal year, the company adopted ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) - Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which is designed to improve the effectiveness of disclosures by removing, modifying and adding disclosures related to fair value measurements. The adoption of this ASU did not have an impact on the company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements or disclosures.

On December 29, 2019, the beginning of Snap-on’s fiscal year, the company adopted ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), which required the measurement of expected credit losses for financial instruments held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The main objective of this ASU is to provide financial statement users with more information about the expected credit losses over the contractual life of financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date.

Snap-on adopted ASU No. 2016-13 under the modified retrospective approach for receivables measured at amortized costs with prior periods reported in accordance with previously applicable guidance. See Note 4 for a discussion about the impact the adoption of this ASU had on the company and further information on credit losses.

The following new accounting pronouncements, and related impacts on adoption, are being evaluated by the company:

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which is designed to simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. ASU No. 2019-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years; this ASU allows for early adoption in any interim period after issuance of the update. The company is currently assessing the impact this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements.