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BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and related statements of operations, cash flows, and stockholders’ equity include all adjustments, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Actual results and outcomes may differ from management’s estimates and assumptions.
Principles of consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The L. S. Starrett Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. All intercompany items have been eliminated in consolidation.
The Company plans to permanently reinvest cash held in foreign subsidiaries. Cash held in foreign subsidiaries is generally not available for use in the U.S. without the likely U.S. federal and state income and withholding tax consequences.
Financial instruments and derivatives: The Company’s financial instruments include cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and debt. The carrying value of cash and accounts receivable approximates fair value because of the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying value of debt as of June 30, 2023 is $10.2 million which is at current market interest rates, also approximates its fair value.
Cash and cash equivalents: The Company considers all highly liquid investment instruments with original maturities of 90 days or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash equivalents consist of demand deposits and money market accounts. Demand deposits and money market accounts are carried at cost which approximates their fair value.
Accounts receivable: Accounts receivable consist of trade receivables from customers. The expense for credit losses amounted to $0.1 million and $0.1 million in fiscal 2023 and 2022, respectively. Trade accounts receivable are recorded at invoiced amount and do not bear interest. Allowance for credit losses is the Company's estimate of current expected credit losses on its existing accounts receivable and determined based on historical customer assessments, current financial conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Company determines the receivable will not be recovered.
Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. “Market” is defined as “net realizable value,” or the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Substantially all United States inventories are valued using the last-in-first-out “LIFO” method. All non-U.S. subsidiaries use the first-in-first-out “FIFO” method or the average cost method. LIFO is not a permissible method of inventory costing for tax purposes outside the U.S.
Property Plant and Equipment: The cost of buildings and equipment is depreciated using straight-line and accelerated methods over their estimated useful lives as follows: buildings and building improvements 10 to 50 years, machinery and equipment 3 to 12 years. The construction in progress balances in buildings, building improvements and machinery and equipment at June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2022 were $4.1 million and $2.3 million, respectively. Repairs and maintenance of equipment are expensed as incurred.
Leases: The Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification 842, Leases ("ASC 842") July 1, 2019. The Company has leased buildings, manufacturing equipment and autos that are classified as operating lease right-of use "ROU" assets and operating lease liabilities in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date for leases exceeding 12 months. Minimum lease payments include only the fixed lease component of the agreement.
Although currently the Company’s Finance Leases are considered de minimis, leases are capitalized under the criteria set forth in this accounting standard.
Intangible assets: Identifiable intangibles are recorded at cost and are amortized on a straight-line basis over a 5-20 year period. The estimated useful lives of the intangible assets subject to amortization are: 14-20 years for trademarks and trade names, 5-10 years for completed technology, 8 years for non-compete agreements, 8-16 years for customer relationships and 5 years for software development.
Revenue Recognition:
The core principle of ASC Topic 606 is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods and services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. The application of the FASB’s guidance on revenue recognition requires the Company to recognize as revenue the amount of consideration that the Company expects to receive in exchange for goods and services transferred to our customers. To do this, the Company applies the five-step model prescribed by the FASB, which requires us to: (1) identify the contract with the customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies a performance obligation.

The Company accounts for a contract or purchase order when it has approval and commitment from both parties, the rights of the parties are identified, payment terms are identified, the contract has commercial substance and collectability of consideration is probable.

Certain taxes assessed by governmental authorities on revenue producing transactions, such as value added taxes, are excluded from revenue and recorded on a net basis.
The Company’s primary source of revenue is derived from the manufacture and distribution of metrology tools and equipment and saw blades and related products sold to distributors. The Company recognizes revenue for sales to our customers when transfer of control of the related good or service has occurred. Any of the Company’s revenue not recognized under the point in time approach for the year ended June 30, 2023, was immaterial. Contract terms with certain metrology equipment customers could result in products and services being transferred over time as a result of the customized nature of some of the Company’s products, together with contractual provisions in the customer contracts that provide the Company with an enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date; however, under typical terms, the Company does not have the right to consideration until the time of shipment from its manufacturing facilities or distribution centers, or until the time of delivery to its customers. If certain contracts in the future provide the Company with this enforceable right to payment, the timing of revenue recognition from products transferred to customers over time may be slightly accelerated compared to the Company’s right to consideration at the time of shipment or delivery. No performance obligation related amounts were deferred as of June 30, 2023. Purchase orders are of durations less than one year. As such, the Company applies the practical expedient in ASC paragraph 606-10-50-14 and does not disclose information about remaining performance obligations that have original expected durations of one year or less, for which work has not yet been performed.
The Company’s typical payment terms vary based on the customer, geographic region, and the type of goods and services in the contract or purchase order. The period of time between invoicing and when payment is due is typically not significant. Amounts billed and due from the Company’s customers are classified as receivables on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. As the Company’s standard payment terms are usually less than one year, the Company has elected the practical expedient under ASC paragraph 606-10-32-18 to not assess whether a contract has a significant financing component.
The Company’s customers take delivery of goods, and they are recognized as revenue at the time of transfer of control to the customer, which is usually at the time of shipment, unless otherwise specified in the customer contract or purchase order. This determination is based on applicable shipping terms, as well as the consideration of other indicators, including timing of when the Company has a present right to payment, when physical possession of products is transferred to customers, when the customer has the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the asset, and any provisions in contracts regarding customer acceptance.
While unit prices are generally fixed, the Company provides variable consideration for certain of our customers, typically in the form of promotional incentives at the time of sale. The Company utilizes the expected value amount consistently to estimate the effect of uncertainty on the amount of variable consideration to which the Company would be entitled. The Company records estimates for cash discounts, promotional rebates, and other promotional allowances in the period the related revenue is recognized (“Customer Credits”). The provision for Customer Credits is recorded as a reduction from gross sales and reserves for Customer Credits are presented within accrued expenses on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Actual Customer Credits have
not differed materially from estimated amounts for each period presented. Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling are included in net sales and costs associated with shipping and handling are included in cost of sales. The Company has concluded that its estimates of variable consideration are not constrained according to the definition within the standard. Additionally, the Company applies the practical expedient in ASC paragraph 606-10-25-18B and accounts for shipping and handling activities that occur after the customer has obtained control of a good as a fulfillment activity, rather than a separate performance obligation.
Under ASC Topic 606, the Company is required to present a refund liability and a return asset within the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The changes in the refund liability are reported in net sales, and the changes in the return asset are reported in cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of June 30, 2023, and 2022, the balances of the return asset were $0.1 million and $0.1 million and the balance of the refund liability was $0.2 million as of June 30, 2023 and $0.2 million in the prior year, and are presented within prepaid expenses and other current assets and accrued expenses, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
The Company, in general, warrants its products against certain defects in material and workmanship when used as designed, for a period of up to 1 year. The Company does not sell extended warranties.
Contract Balances
Contract assets primarily relate to the Company’s rights to consideration for work completed but not billed at the reporting date on contracts with customers. Contract assets are transferred to receivables when the rights become unconditional. Contract liabilities primarily relate to contracts where advance payments or deposits have been received, but performance obligations have not yet been met, and therefore, revenue has not been recognized. The Company had no contract asset balances, but had contract liability balances of $0.3 million and $0.9 million at June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Advertising costs: The Company’s policy is to generally expense advertising costs as incurred, except catalogs costs of $0.3 million in fiscal years 2023 and $0.1 million in 2022, which were deferred until mailed. Advertising costs were expensed as follows: $3.7 million in fiscal 2023 and $3.1 million in fiscal 2022 and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
Freight costs: The cost of outbound freight and the cost for inbound freight included in material purchase costs are both included in cost of sales.
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits: The Company has two defined benefit pension plans, one for U.S. employees and another for U.K. employees. The Company also has defined contribution plans. The Company amended its Postretirement Medical Plan effective December 31, 2013, whereby the Company terminated eligibility for employees under the age of 65.
On December 21, 2016, the Company amended the U.S. defined benefit pension plan to freeze benefit accruals effective December 31, 2016. Consequently, the Plan is closed to new participants and current participants no longer earn additional benefits after December 31, 2016. The U.K. Plan was closed to new entrants in fiscal 2009.
The Company also sponsors an unfunded postretirement benefit plan that provides health care benefits and life insurance coverage to eligible U.S. retirees. Under the Company’s current accounting method, both pension plans use fair value as the market-related value of plan assets and continue to recognize actuarial gains or losses within the corridor in other comprehensive income (loss) but instead of amortizing net actuarial gains or losses in excess of the corridor in future periods, such excess gains and losses, if any, are recognized in net periodic benefit cost as of the plan measurement date, which is the same as the fiscal year end of the Company. This mark-to-market (MTM adjustment) method is a permitted option which results in immediate recognition of excess net actuarial gains and losses in net periodic benefit cost instead of in other comprehensive income (loss). Such immediate recognition in net periodic benefit cost increases the volatility of net periodic benefit cost. The MTM adjustments to net periodic benefit cost for fiscal years 2023, and 2022 were $8.7 million and $0.2 million, respectively.
Income taxes: Deferred tax expense results from differences in the timing of certain transactions for financial reporting and tax purposes. Deferred taxes have not been recorded on approximately $92.9 million of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries as of June 30, 2023 and the related unrealized translation adjustments because such amounts are considered permanently invested. In addition, it is possible that remittance taxes, if any, would be reduced by U.S. foreign tax credits to the extent available, after consideration of U.S. Tax Reform and the dividends received deduction. Valuation allowances are recognized if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
Research and development: Research and development costs are expensed in selling, general and administrative expenses, and were as follows: $3.7 million in fiscal 2023 and $3.5 million in fiscal 2022.
Earnings per share (EPS): Basic EPS is computed by dividing earnings (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution by securities that could share in the earnings. The Company had 163,741 and 211,220 of potentially dilutive common shares in fiscal 2023 and 2022, respectively, resulting from shares issuable under its stock-based compensation plans. These shares are not used in the diluted EPS calculation in loss years.
Translation of foreign currencies: The assets and liabilities on the financial statements of our foreign subsidiaries where the local currency is in functional currency, are translated at exchange rates in effect on reporting dates. The income statement is translated at average exchange rates over the reporting month throughout the year.
As equity accounts in the Consolidated Financial Statements are translated at historical exchange rates, the resulting foreign currency translation adjustments “CTA” are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss).
Other foreign subsidiaries may also contain assets or liabilities denominated in a currency other than the prevailing functional currency. These translations are adjusted into the functional currency on a monthly basis, See Note 12 “Other Income and Expense” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Use of accounting estimates: The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting period. Judgments, assumptions and estimates are used for, but not limited to: the allowances for doubtful accounts receivable; inventory allowances; income tax valuation allowances, goodwill, uncertain tax positions and pension obligations. Amounts ultimately realized could differ from those estimates.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards:
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 "Financial Instruments -Credit Losses" (ASC 326) "Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” and subsequent amendment to the guidance, ASU 2018-19 in November 2018. The standard significantly changes how entities measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. The standard replaces historic incurred loss” approach with an “expected loss” model for instruments measured at amortized cost. The amendment loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off balance sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables, and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. ASU 2018-19 clarifies that receivables arising from operating leases are accounted for using lease guidance and not as financial instruments. The amendments should be applied on either a prospective transition or modified-retrospective approach depending on the subtopic. This pronouncement was extended for Small Reporting Companies and for the Company beginning July 1, 2022. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
In March 2020, FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848). The amendments in this Update are effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The amendments in this Update provide optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effects of) reference rate reform on financial reporting. The Company currently has no hedging type contracts or others tied to reference rates where this standard would have a material impact to the Company's accounting. There is no material impact to the Company's financials as a result of adopting this amendment regarding the HSBC loan agreement. The adoption of ASU 2020-04 does not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.