The following is a summary of significant accounting policies of Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively "We," "Us," "Our," "Ethan Allen" or the "Company"). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. Our consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of an entity in which we are a majority shareholder with the power to direct the activites that most significantly impact the entity’s performance. Noncontrolling interest amounts in the entity are immaterial and included in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income within interest and other income, net.

 

 

We are a leading manufacturer and retailer of quality home furnishings and accents, offering complimentary interior design service to our clients and sell a full range of furniture products and decorative accents. We sell our products through of the country’s largest home furnishing retail networks and at there were a total of design centers in our retail network, of which are Company operated and are independently operated. Nearly all our Company operated retail design centers are located in the United States, with the remaining Company operated design centers located in Canada. The majority of the independently operated design centers are in Asia, with the remaining independently operated design centers located throughout the United States, the Middle East and Europe. We own and operate manufacturing facilities including manufacturing plants and sawmill in the United States and manufacturing plant in Mexico and in Honduras.

 

 

 

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Because of the inherent uncertainty involved in making those estimates, actual results could differ from those estimates. Areas in which significant estimates have been made include, but are limited to, revenue recognition, the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, inventory obsolescence, tax valuation allowances, useful lives and impairment analyses for property, plant and equipment and definite lived intangible assets, goodwill and indefinite lived intangible asset impairment analyses, the evaluation of uncertain tax positions and the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations.

 

 

C

ertain reclassifications have been made to prior years’ financial statements to conform to the current year’s presentation. These changes were made for disclosure purposes only and did have any impact on previously reported results.

 

 

Cash and short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of months or less are considered cash and cash equivalents. We invest excess cash in money market accounts, short-term commercial paper, and U.S. Treasury Bills.

 

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (-in, -out) or market. Cost is determined based solely on those charges incurred in the acquisition and production of the related inventory (i.e. material, labor and manufacturing overhead costs).

 

 

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation of plant and equipment is provided over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets on a straight-line basis. Estimated useful lives of the respective assets typically range from to years for buildings and improvements and from to years for machinery and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized based on the underlying lease term, or the asset’s estimated useful life, whichever is shorter.

 

 

We record expense for operating leases by recognizing the minimum lease payments on a straight-line basis, beginning on the date that the lessee takes possession or control of the property. Several our operating lease agreements contain provisions for tenant improvement allowances, rent holidays, rent concessions, and/or rent escalations.

 

Incentive payments received from landlords are recorded as deferred lease incentives and are amortized over the underlying lease term on a straight-line basis as a reduction of rent expense. When the terms of an operating lease provide for periods of free rent, rent concessions, and/or rent escalations, we establish a deferred rent liability for the difference between the scheduled rent payment and the straight-line rent expense recognized. This deferred rent liability is also amortized over the underlying lease term on a straight-line basis as a reduction of rent expense.

 

 

We account for the acquisition of retail design centers and related assets with the purchase method. Accounting for these transactions as purchase business combinations requires the allocation of purchase price paid to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values as of the date of the acquisition. The amount paid in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired is accounted for as goodwill.

 

 

Our intangible assets are comprised primarily of goodwill, which represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net assets acquired, and trademarks. We determined these assets have indefinite useful lives, and are therefore amortized.

 

 

Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment on an annual basis during the quarter of each fiscal year, and between annual tests whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the goodwill or other intangible asset exceed its fair value. When testing goodwill for impairment, we assess qualitative factors for some or all of our reporting units to determine whether it is more likely than (that is, a likelihood of more than percent) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill. Alternatively, we bypass this qualitative assessment for some or all of our reporting units and determine whether the carrying value exceeds the fair value using a quantitative assessment, as described below.

 

The recoverability of long-lived assets is evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that we be able to recover the carrying amount of an asset or asset group. Our assessment of recoverability determines whether the carrying value will be recovered through the expected undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset. In the event the sum of the expected undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying value of the asset, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its fair value is recorded. The long-term nature of these assets requires the estimation of cash inflows and outflows several years into the future and only takes into consideration technological advances known at the time of the impairment test.

 

To evaluate goodwill using a quantitative assessment, the Company determines the current fair value of the reporting units using a combination of “Market” and “Income” approaches. In the Market approach, the “Guideline Company” method is used, which focuses on comparing the Company’s risk profile and growth prospects to reasonably similar publicly traded companies. Key assumptions used for the Guideline Company method are total invested capital (“TIC”) multiples for revenues and operating cash flows, as well as consideration of control premiums. The TIC multiples are determined based on public furniture companies within our peer group, and if appropriate, recent comparable transactions are considered. Control premiums are determined using recent comparable transactions in the open market. Under the Income approach, a discounted cash flow method is used, which includes a terminal value, and is based on external analyst financial projection estimates, as well as internal financial projection estimates prepared by management. The long-term terminal growth rate assumptions reflect our current long-term view of the market in which we compete. Discount rates use the weighted average cost of capital for companies within our peer group, adjusted for specific company risk premium factors.

 

The fair value of our trade name, which is the Company’s only indefinite-lived intangible asset other than goodwill, is valued using the relief-from-royalty method. Significant factors used in trade name valuation are rates for royalties, future growth, and a discount factor. Royalty rates are determined using an average of recent comparable values. Future growth rates are based on the Company’s perception of the long-term values in the market in which we compete, and the discount rate is determined using the weighted average cost of capital for companies within our peer group, adjusted for specific company risk premium factors.

 

 

Because of their short-term nature, the carrying value of our cash and cash equivalents, receivables and payables, short-term debt and customer deposit liabilities approximates fair value. Substantially all our long-term debt at both and consists of our term loan and revolving credit facility. The estimated fair value is equal to the carrying value on those dates.

 

 

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards.

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance must be established for deferred tax assets when it is more likely than that the assets will be realized.

 

We recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. Most of the unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would be recorded as a benefit to income tax expense.

 

The liability associated with an unrecognized tax benefit is classified as a long-term liability except for the amount for which a cash payment is expected to be made or tax positions settled within year. We recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters as a component of income tax expense.

 

 

Revenue is recognized when all the following have occurred: persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists (e.g. a wholesale purchase order or retail sales invoice); the sales arrangement specifies a fixed or determinable sales price; title and risk of ownership has passed to the customer; specific performance obligations remain; product is shipped or services are provided to the customer; collectability is reasonably assured. As such, revenue recognition generally occurs upon the shipment of goods to independent retailers or, in the case of Ethan Allen operated retail design centers, upon delivery to the customer. If shipping is billed to customers, this is included in revenue. Recorded sales provide for estimated returns and allowances. We permit our customers to return defective products and incorrect shipments, and terms we offer are standard for the industry.

 

 

Our practice has been to sell our products at the same delivered cost to all retailers nationwide, regardless of shipping point. Costs incurred by the Company to deliver finished goods are expensed and recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses. Shipping and handling costs amounted to million in fiscal year million for fiscal and million in fiscal

 

 

Advertising costs are expensed when aired or distributed. Our total advertising costs were million in fiscal year million in fiscal year and million in fiscal year These amounts include advertising media expenses, outside and inside agency expenses, certain website related fees and photo and video production. Fiscal and amounts include reclassifications to conform to the current year presentation. Prepaid advertising costs at totaled million compared to million at

 

 

We compute basic earnings per share by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated similarly, except that the weighted average outstanding shares are adjusted to include the effects of converting all potentially dilutive share-based awards issued under our employee stock plans (see Notes and ). Certain unvested share-based payment awards are participating securities because they contain rights to receive non-forfeitable dividends (if paid). The earnings available to participating securities under the -class method of computing earnings per share is insignificant.

 

 

We estimate, as of the date of grant, the fair value of stock options awarded using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Use of a valuation model requires management to make certain assumptions with respect to selected model inputs, including anticipated changes in the underlying stock price (i.e. expected volatility) and option exercise activity (i.e. expected life). Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of our stock and other contributing factors. The expected life of options granted, which represents the period of time that the options are expected to be outstanding, is based, primarily, on historical data. We estimate, as of the date of grant, the fair value of restricted stock units awarded using a discounted cash flow model which requires management to make certain assumptions with respect to model inputs including anticipated future dividends paid during the restriction period, and a discount for lack of marketability for a -year holding period after vesting.

 

Share-based compensation expense is included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations within selling, general and administrative expenses. Tax benefits associated with our share-based compensation arrangements are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations within income tax expense.

 

All shares of our common stock received in connection with the exercise of share-based awards have been recorded as treasury stock and result in a reduction in shareholders’ equity.

 

 

The functional currency of each Company operated foreign location is the respective local currency. Assets and liabilities are translated into United States dollars using the current period-end exchange rate and income and expense amounts are translated using the average exchange rate for the period in which the transaction occurred. Resulting translation adjustments are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within shareholders’ equity.

 

 

There were accounting pronouncements adopted in the fiscal years ended or that had a material effect on our consolidated financial statements or financial statement disclosures.