GENERAL (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Description of Business

Description of Business: Transcat, Inc. (“Transcat” or the “Company”) is a leading provider of accredited calibration and laboratory instrument services and a value-added distributor of professional grade handheld test, measurement and control instrumentation. The Company is focused on providing services and products to highly regulated industries, particularly the life science industry, which includes pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and other FDA-regulated businesses. Additional industries served include industrial manufacturing; energy and utilities, including oil and gas and alternative energy; FAA-regulated businesses, including aerospace and defense; and other industries that require accuracy in their processes, confirmation of the capabilities of their equipment, and for which the risk of failure is very costly.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements of Transcat include the accounts of Transcat and the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, Transcat Canada Inc., United Scale & Engineering Corporation, WTT Real Estate Acquisition, LLC and Anmar Metrology, Inc. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates: The preparation of Transcat’s Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) requires that the Company make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and 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. Significant estimates and assumptions are used for, but not limited to, allowance for doubtful accounts and returns, inventory reserves, estimated levels of achievement for performance-based restricted stock units, fair value of stock options, depreciable lives of fixed assets, estimated lives of major catalogs and intangible assets, and the valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business acquisitions. Future events and their effects cannot be predicted with certainty; accordingly, accounting estimates require the exercise of judgment. The accounting estimates used in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements will change as new events occur, as more experience is acquired, as additional information is obtained and as the operating environment changes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Such changes and refinements in estimation methodologies are reflected in reported results of operations in the period in which the changes are made and, if material, their effects are disclosed in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Fiscal Year

Fiscal Year: Transcat operates on a 52/53 week fiscal year, ending the last Saturday in March. In a 52-week fiscal year, each of the four quarters is a 13-week period. In a 53-week fiscal year, the last quarter is a 14-week period. The fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 (“fiscal year 2018”) consisted of 53 weeks while the fiscal year ended March 25, 2017 (“fiscal year 2017”) consisted of 52 weeks.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable: Accounts receivable represent amounts due from customers in the ordinary course of business. These amounts are recorded net of the allowance for doubtful accounts and returns in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based upon the expected collectability of accounts receivable. Transcat applies a specific formula to its accounts receivable aging, which may be adjusted on a specific account basis where the formula may not appropriately reserve for loss exposure. After all attempts to collect a receivable have failed, the receivable is written-off against the allowance for doubtful accounts. The returns reserve is calculated based upon the historical rate of returns applied to revenues over a specific timeframe. The returns reserve will increase or decrease as a result of changes in the level of revenue and/or the historical rate of returns.

Inventory

Inventory: Inventory consists of products purchased for resale and is valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Costs are determined using the average cost method of inventory valuation. Inventory is reduced by a reserve for items not saleable at or above cost by applying a specific loss factor, based on historical experience, to specific categories of inventory. The Company evaluates the adequacy of the reserve on a quarterly basis. At March 31, 2018 and March 25, 2017, the Company had reserves for inventory losses totaling $0.4 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

Property and Equipment, Depreciation and Amortization

Property and Equipment, Depreciation and Amortization: Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are computed primarily under the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

	Years
Machinery, Equipment and Software	2 – 15
Rental Equipment	5 – 8
Furniture and Fixtures	3 – 10
Leasehold Improvements	2 – 10
Buildings	39

Property and equipment determined to have no value are written off at their then remaining net book value. Transcat capitalizes certain costs incurred in the procurement and development of computer software used for internal purposes. Leasehold improvements are amortized under the straight-line method over the estimated useful life or the lease term, whichever is shorter. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. See Note 2 for further information on property and equipment.

Business Acquisitions

Business Acquisitions: The Company applies the acquisition method of accounting for business acquisitions. Under the acquisition method, the purchase price of an acquisition is assigned to the underlying tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their respective fair values at the date of acquisition. The Company uses a valuation hierarchy, as further described under Fair Value of Financial Instruments below, and typically utilizes independent third-party valuation specialists to determine the fair values used in this allocation. Purchase price allocations are subject to revision within the measurement period, not to exceed one year from the date of acquisition. Costs to acquire a business may include, but are not limited to, fees for accounting, legal and valuation services, and are expensed as incurred in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets: Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair values of the underlying net assets of an acquired business. Intangible assets, namely customer base and covenants not to compete, represent an allocation of purchase price to identifiable intangible assets of an acquired business. The Company estimates the fair value of its reporting units using the fair market value measurement requirement.

The Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis, or immediately if conditions indicate that such impairment could exist. Other intangible assets are evaluated for impairment when events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. The Company determined that no impairment was indicated as of March 31, 2018 and March 25, 2017. A summary of changes in the Company’s goodwill and intangible assets is as follows:

	Goodwill								Intangible Assets
	Distribution		Service			Total			Distribution			Service			Total
Net Book Value as of March 26, 2016	$	8,031	$	21,081		$	29,112		$	124		$	8,087		$	8,211
Additions (see Note 9)		1,728		1,733			3,461			1,045			1,045			2,090
Amortization		-		-			-			(413	)		(2,362	)		(2,775	)
Currency Translation Adjustment		-		(53	)		(53	)		-			(7	)		(7	)
Net Book Value as of March 25, 2017	$	9,759	$	22,761		$	32,520		$	756		$	6,763		$	7,519
Additions (see Note 9)		-		-			-			-			-			-
Amortization		-		-			-			(269	)		(1,803	)		(2,072	)
Currency Translation Adjustment		-		220			220			-			58			58
Net Book Value as of March 31, 2018	$	9,759	$	22,981		$	32,740		$	487		$	5,018		$	5,505

The intangible assets are being amortized on an accelerated basis over their estimated useful lives of up to 10 years. Amortization expense relating to intangible assets is expected to be $1.6 million in fiscal year 2019, $1.2 million in fiscal year 2020, $0.9 million in fiscal year 2021, $0.6 million in fiscal year 2022 and $0.5 million in fiscal year 2023.

Catalog Costs

Catalog Costs: Transcat capitalizes the cost of each Master Catalog mailed and amortizes the cost over the respective catalog’s estimated productive life. The Company reviews response results from catalog mailings on a continuous basis, and if warranted, modifies the period over which costs are recognized. The Company amortizes the cost of each Master Catalog over an eighteen-month period and amortizes the cost of each catalog supplement over a three-month period. Total unamortized catalog costs, included as a component of prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, were $0.1 million as of March 31, 2018 and March 25, 2017.

Deferred Taxes

Deferred Taxes: Transcat accounts for certain income and expense items differently for financial reporting purposes than for income tax reporting purposes. Deferred taxes are provided in recognition of these temporary differences. If necessary, a valuation allowance on net deferred tax assets is provided for items for which it is more likely than not that the benefit of such items will not be realized based on an assessment of both positive and negative evidence. See Note 4 for further discussion on income taxes.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments: Transcat has determined the fair value of debt and other financial instruments using a valuation hierarchy. The hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value, consists of three levels. Level 1 uses observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2 uses inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, which is defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, requires the Company to develop its own assumptions. The carrying amount of debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets approximates fair value due to variable interest rate pricing, and the carrying amounts for cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. Investment assets, which fund the Company’s non-qualified deferred compensation plan, consist of mutual funds and are valued based on Level 1 inputs. At each of March 31, 2018 and March 25, 2017, investment assets totaled $0.7 million and are included as a component of other assets (non-current) on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation: The Company measures the cost of services received in exchange for all equity awards granted, including stock options and restricted stock units, based on the fair market value of the award as of the grant date. The Company records compensation cost related to unvested equity awards by recognizing, on a straight-line basis, the unamortized grant date fair value over the remaining service period of each award. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-09 to simplify certain aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions to employees. The Company elected to early adopt this ASU in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017. Upon adoption, excess tax benefits for share-based award activity are reflected in the statement of income as a component of the provision for income taxes. Excess tax benefits are realized benefits from tax deductions for exercised awards in excess of the deferred tax asset attributable to stock-based compensation costs for such awards. The Company did not capitalize any stock-based compensation costs as part of an asset. The Company estimates forfeiture rates based on its historical experience. During fiscal years 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded non-cash stock-based compensation cost in the amount of $1.4 million and $0.5 million, respectively, in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition: Distribution sales are recorded when an order’s title and risk of loss transfers to the customer. The Company recognizes the majority of its Service revenue based upon when the calibration or other activity is performed and then shipped and/or delivered to the customer. Some Service revenue is generated from managing customers’ calibration programs in which the Company recognizes revenue in equal amounts at fixed intervals. The Company generally invoices its customers for freight, shipping, and handling charges. Provisions for customer returns are provided for in the period the related revenue is recorded based upon historical data.

Vendor Rebates

Vendor Rebates: Vendor rebates are generally based on specified cumulative levels of purchases and/or incremental distribution sales and are recorded as a reduction of cost of distribution sales. Purchase rebates are calculated and recorded quarterly based upon the volume of purchases with specific vendors during the quarter. Point of sale rebate programs that are based on year-over-year sales performance on a calendar year basis are recorded as earned, on a quarterly basis, based upon the expected level of annual achievement. Point of sale rebate programs that are based on year-over-year sales performance on a quarterly basis are recorded as earned in the respective quarter. The Company recorded vendor rebates of $1.4 million and $1.5 million in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively as a reduction of cost of distribution sales.

Cooperative Advertising Income

Cooperative Advertising Income: Transcat records cash consideration received from vendors for advertising as a reduction of cost of distribution sales. The Company recorded consideration in the amount of $1.7 million in each of the fiscal years 2018 and 2017.

Advertising Costs

Advertising Costs: Advertising costs, other than catalog costs, are expensed as they are incurred and are included in Selling, Marketing and Warehouse Expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Advertising costs were approximately $0.8 million and $1.2 million in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and Handling Costs: Freight expense and direct shipping costs are included in the cost of revenue. These costs totaled approximately $2.5 million and $2.2 million in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively. Direct handling costs, the majority of which represent direct compensation of employees who pick, pack, and prepare merchandise for shipment to customers, are reflected in selling, marketing and warehouse expenses. Direct handling costs were $0.9 million in each of the fiscal years 2018 and 2017.

Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions

Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions: The accounts of Transcat Canada Inc. are maintained in the local currency and have been translated to U.S. dollars. Accordingly, the amounts representing assets and liabilities have been translated at the period-end rates of exchange, and related revenue and expense accounts have been translated at an average rate of exchange during the period. Gains and losses arising from translation of Transcat Canada Inc.’s financial statements into U.S. dollars are recorded directly to the accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) component of shareholders’ equity.

Transcat records foreign currency gains and losses on business transactions denominated in foreign currency. The net foreign currency loss was less than $0.1 million in each of the fiscal years 2018 and 2017. The Company continually utilizes short-term foreign exchange forward contracts to reduce the risk that its earnings would be adversely affected by changes in currency exchange rates. The Company does not apply hedge accounting and therefore the net change in the fair value of the contracts, which totaled a net loss of less than $0.1 million in fiscal year 2018 and a net gain of less than $0.1 million in 2017, was recognized as a component of other expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The change in the fair value of the contracts is offset by the change in fair value on the underlying accounts receivables denominated in Canadian dollars being hedged. On March 31, 2018, the Company had a foreign exchange contract, which matured in April 2018, outstanding in the notional amount of $5.1 million. This contract was subsequently renewed and remains in place. The Company does not use hedging arrangements for speculative purposes.

Other Comprehensive Income

Other Comprehensive Income: Comprehensive income is composed of currency translation adjustments, unrecognized prior service costs, net of tax, and unrealized gains or losses on other assets, net of tax. At March 31, 2018, accumulated other comprehensive income consisted of cumulative currency translation losses of $0.1 million, unrecognized prior service costs, net of tax, of $0.2 million and an unrealized gain on other assets, net of tax, of less than $0.1 million. At March 25, 2017, accumulated other comprehensive income consisted of cumulative currency translation losses of $0.3 million, unrecognized prior service costs, net of tax, of $0.1 million and an unrealized gain on other assets, net of tax, of less than $0.1 million.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings per Share: Basic earnings per share of common stock are computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share of common stock reflect the assumed conversion of stock options and unvested restricted stock units using the treasury stock method in periods in which they have a dilutive effect. In computing the per share effect of assumed conversion, proceeds received from the exercise of options and unvested restricted stock units and the related tax benefits are considered to have been used to purchase shares of common stock at the average market prices during the period, and the resulting net additional shares of common stock are included in the calculation of average shares of common stock outstanding.

For fiscal years 2018 and 2017, the net additional common stock equivalents had a $0.02 and $0.01 per share effect on the calculation of dilutive earnings per share, respectively. The average shares outstanding used to compute basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows:

	For the Years Ended
	March 31,	March 25,
	2018	2017
Average Shares Outstanding – Basic	7,124	6,994
Effect of Dilutive Common Stock Equivalents	179	117
Average Shares Outstanding – Diluted	7,303	7,111
Anti-dilutive Common Stock Equivalents	-	-

Shareholders' Equity

Shareholders’ Equity: During each of fiscal years 2018 and 2017, the Company repurchased and subsequently retired less than 0.1 million shares of its common stock. Under letter agreements approved by the Board of Directors, the Company redeemed certain stock options that were previously issued pursuant to the shareholder approved Transcat, Inc. 2003 Incentive Plan, as Amended and Restated (the “2003 Plan”) for $0.1 million in fiscal year 2018 and $1.0 million in fiscal year 2017.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements:

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which establishes principles to report useful information to financial statements users about the nature, timing and uncertainty of revenue from contracts with customers. ASU No. 2014-09 along with various related amendments comprise Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and provide guidance that is applicable to all contracts with customers regardless of industry-specific or transaction-specific fact patterns. The new standard and its related updates are effective for the Company on April 1, 2018. On the effective date, the Company will apply the new guidance using the modified retrospective approach to each prior reporting period presented. The cumulative effect adjustment upon adoption of the ASU in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 is expected to be immaterial.

Overall, the new standard will not have a material impact on the results of the Company's operations or consolidated statements of financial position, but will change the presentation and timing of certain revenue transactions. The Company's evaluation of the new standards included a review of certain vendor arrangements to determine whether the Company acts as principal or agent in such arrangements. The Company does not expect material changes in gross versus net presentation as a result of the adoption of the new standard. There are enhanced disclosure requirements under this standard.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (ASC Topic 842), which requires lessees to recognize substantially all leases on-balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The new standard establishes a right of use ("ROU") model that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the income statement.

The new standard is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. ASU 2016-02 requires entities to adopt a modified retrospective transition method for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the consolidated financial statements.

The Company continues to evaluate the impact that adopting ASU 2016-02 will have on its financial statements, but the most significant impact will be to increase assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet by the present value of the Company’s leasing obligations, which are primarily related to facility and vehicle leases, as well as additional disclosures required.

Retirement Plan

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07 to Topic 715, Compensation—Retirement Benefits. This ASU provides new guidance as part of FASB’s effort to improve employers’ financial reporting for defined benefit plans. This new guidance changes where on the income statement employers that sponsor defined benefit pension and/or other postretirement benefit plans present the net periodic benefit cost. Under the new guidance, employers will present the service cost component of the net periodic benefit cost in the same income statement line item(s) as other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. In addition, only the service cost component will be eligible for capitalization in assets. Employers will present the other components separately from the line item(s) that includes the service cost and outside of any subtotal of operating income, if one is presented. Employers will have to disclose the line(s) used to present the other components of net periodic benefit cost, if the components are not presented separately in the income statement. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years with early adoption permitted. For fiscal years 2018 and 2017, the net periodic benefit cost was approximately $0.1 million. The Company does not expect adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

Goodwill

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (Topic 350). This ASU simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment for all entities by requiring impairment charges to be based on the first step in today’s two-step impairment test under ASC 350. Under the new guidance, if the carrying amount of a reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its fair value, an entity will record an impairment charge based on that difference. The impairment charge will be limited to the amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. This ASU simplifies today’s requirement to calculate a goodwill impairment charge using a separately calculated implied fair value. This ASU is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted beginning January 1, 2017. The Company does not expect adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

Comprehensive Income

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This ASU allows for stranded tax effects in accumulated other comprehensive income resulting from H.R. 1, originally known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” to be reclassified to retained earnings. The new standard is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the new standard and does not expect the new standard to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Reclassification of Amounts

Reclassification of Amounts: Certain reclassifications of financial information for prior fiscal years have been made to conform to the presentation for the current fiscal year.