Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

EnerSys (the “Company”) and its predecessor companies have been manufacturers of industrial batteries for over 125 years. EnerSys is a global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications. The Company manufactures, markets and distributes industrial batteries and related products such as chargers, outdoor cabinet enclosures, power equipment and battery accessories, and provides related after-market and customer-support services for its products.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries and any partially owned subsidiaries that the Company has the ability to control. Control generally equates to ownership percentage, whereby investments that are more than 50% owned are generally consolidated, investments in affiliates of 50% or less but greater than 20% are generally accounted for using the equity method, and investments in affiliates of 20% or less are accounted for using the cost method. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Company also consolidates certain subsidiaries in which the noncontrolling interest party has within its control the right to require the Company to redeem all or a portion of its interest in the subsidiary. The redeemable noncontrolling interests are reported at their estimated redemption value, and the amount presented in temporary equity is not less than the initial amount reported in temporary equity. Any adjustment to the redemption value impacts retained earnings but does not impact net income or comprehensive income.

Foreign Currency Translation

Results of foreign operations of subsidiaries, whose functional currency is the local currency, are translated into U.S. dollars using average exchange rates during the periods. The assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates as of the balance sheet dates. Gains or losses resulting from translating the foreign currency financial statements are accumulated as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) in EnerSys’ stockholders’ equity and noncontrolling interests.

Transaction gains and losses resulting from exchange rate changes on transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the applicable subsidiary are included in the Consolidated Statements of Income, within “Other (income) expense, net”, in the year in which the change occurs.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when the earnings process is complete. This occurs when risk and title transfers, collectibility is reasonably assured and pricing is fixed or determinable. Shipment terms are either shipping point or destination and do not differ significantly between the Company’s business segments. Accordingly, revenue is recognized when risk and title are transferred to the customer. Amounts invoiced to customers for shipping and handling are classified as revenue. Taxes on revenue producing transactions are not included in net sales.

The Company recognizes revenue from the service of its products when the respective services are performed.

Accruals are made at the time of sale for sales returns and other allowances based on the Company’s historical experience.

Freight Expense

Amounts billed to customers for outbound freight costs are classified as sales in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Costs incurred by the Company for outbound freight costs to customers, inbound and transfer freight are classified in cost of goods

sold.

Warranties

The Company’s products are warranted for a period ranging from one to twenty years for reserve power batteries and for a period ranging from one to seven years for motive power batteries. The Company provides for estimated product warranty expenses when the related products are sold. The assessment of the adequacy of the reserve includes a review of open claims and historical experience.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that subject the Company to potential concentration of credit risk consist principally of short-term cash investments and trade accounts receivable. The Company invests its cash with various financial institutions and in various investment instruments limiting the amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution or entity. The Company has bank deposits that exceed federally insured limits. In addition, certain cash investments may be made in U.S. and foreign government bonds, or other highly rated investments guaranteed by the U.S. or foreign governments. Concentration of credit risk with respect to trade receivables is limited by a large, diversified customer base and its geographic dispersion. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and requires collateral, such as letters of credit, in certain circumstances.

Accounts Receivable

The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of customers to make required payments. The allowance is based on management’s estimate of uncollectible accounts, analysis of historical data and trends, as well as reviews of all relevant factors concerning the financial capability of its customers. Accounts receivable are considered to be past due based on when payments are received compared to the customer’s credit terms. Accounts are written off when management determines the account is uncollectible.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The cost of inventory consists of material, labor, and associated overhead.

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment are recorded at cost and include expenditures that substantially increase the useful lives of the assets. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows: 10 to 33 years for buildings and improvements and 3 to 15 years for machinery and equipment.

Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Interest on capital projects is capitalized during the construction period.

Business Combinations

The purchase price of an acquired company is allocated between tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the acquired business based on their estimated fair values, with the residual of the purchase price recorded as goodwill. The results of operations of the acquired business are included in the Company’s operating results from the date of acquisition.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and indefinite-lived trademarks are tested for impairment at least annually and whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that a possible impairment may have been incurred. Goodwill is tested for impairment by determining the fair value of the Company’s reporting units. These estimated fair values are based on financial projections, certain cash flow measures, and market capitalization.

The Company estimates the fair value of its reporting units using a weighting of fair values derived from both the income approach and the market approach. Under the income approach, the Company calculates the fair value of a reporting unit based on the present value of estimated future cash flows. Cash flow projections are based on management's estimates of revenue growth rates and operating margins, taking into consideration industry and market conditions. The discount rate used is based on the weighted-average cost of capital adjusted for the relevant risk associated with business-specific characteristics and the uncertainty related to the business's ability to execute on the projected cash flows. The market approach estimates fair value based on market multiples of revenue and earnings derived from comparable publicly-traded companies with similar operating and investment characteristics as the reporting unit. The weighting of the fair value derived from the market approach ranges from 0% to 50% depending on the level of comparability of these publicly-traded companies to the reporting unit.

In order to assess the reasonableness of the calculated fair values of its reporting units, the Company also compares the sum of the reporting units' fair values to its market capitalization and calculates an implied control premium (the excess of the sum of the reporting units' fair values over the market capitalization). The Company evaluates the control premium by comparing it to control premiums of recent comparable market transactions.

In fiscal 2016, in accordance with guidance under ASC 350, the Company conducted the goodwill impairment test using the two-step process. In the first step, the Company compares the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is not impaired and no further testing is required. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, the Company must perform the second step of the impairment test to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. In the second step, the reporting unit's fair value is allocated to all of the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit, including any unrecognized intangible assets, in a hypothetical analysis that calculates the implied fair value of goodwill in the same manner as if the reporting unit was being acquired in a business combination. If the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill is less than the carrying value, the difference is recorded as an impairment loss.

In fiscal 2017, as discussed in more detail under New Accounting Pronouncements, the Company early adopted ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Accounting for Goodwill Impairment”, which simplified the measurement of goodwill impairment by removing the second step of the goodwill impairment test that requires a hypothetical purchase price allocation.

The annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test is performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is not impaired and no further testing is required. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

The indefinite-lived trademarks are tested for impairment by comparing the carrying value to the fair value based on current revenue projections of the related operations, under the relief from royalty method. Any excess carrying value over the amount of fair value is recognized as impairment. Any impairment would be recognized in full in the reporting period in which it has been identified.

Finite-lived assets such as customer relationships, patents, and non-compete agreements are amortized over their estimated useful lives, generally over periods ranging from 3 to 20 years. The Company reviews the carrying values of these assets for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable based on undiscounted estimated cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. The Company continually evaluates the reasonableness of the useful lives of these assets.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews the carrying values of its long-lived assets to be held and used for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable, based on undiscounted estimated cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. The factors considered by the Company in performing this assessment include current operating results, trends and other economic factors. In assessing the recoverability of the carrying value of a long-lived asset, the Company must make assumptions regarding future cash flows and other factors. If these estimates or the related assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to record an impairment loss for these assets.

Environmental Expenditures

The Company records a loss and establishes a reserve for environmental remediation liabilities when it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability exists and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Reasonable estimates involve judgments made by management after considering a broad range of information including notifications, demands or settlements that have been received from a regulatory authority or private party, estimates performed by independent engineering companies and outside counsel, available facts existing and proposed technology, the identification of other potentially responsible parties, their ability to contribute and prior experience. These judgments are reviewed quarterly as more information is received and the amounts reserved are updated as necessary. However, the reserves may materially differ from ultimate actual liabilities if the loss contingency is difficult to estimate or if management’s judgments turn out to be inaccurate. If management believes no best estimate exists, the minimum probable loss is accrued.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company utilizes derivative instruments to mitigate volatility related to interest rates, lead prices and foreign currency exposures. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The Company recognizes derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and measures those instruments at fair value. Changes in the fair value of those instruments are reported in AOCI if they qualify for hedge accounting or in earnings if they do not qualify for hedge accounting. Derivatives qualify for hedge accounting if they are designated as hedge instruments and if the hedge is highly effective in achieving offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flows of the asset or liability hedged. Effectiveness is measured on a regular basis using statistical analysis and by comparing the overall changes in the expected cash flows on the lead and foreign currency forward contracts with the changes in the expected all-in cash outflow required for the lead and foreign currency purchases. This analysis is performed on the initial purchases quarterly that cover the quantities hedged. Accordingly, gains and losses from changes in derivative fair value of effective hedges are deferred and reported in AOCI until the underlying transaction affects earnings.

The Company has commodity, foreign exchange and interest rate hedging authorization from the Board of Directors and has established a hedging and risk management program that includes the management of market and counterparty risk. Key risk control activities designed to ensure compliance with the risk management program include, but are not limited to, credit review and approval, validation of transactions and market prices, verification of risk and transaction limits, portfolio stress tests, sensitivity analyses and frequent portfolio reporting, including open positions, determinations of fair value and other risk management metrics.

Market risk is the potential loss the Company and its subsidiaries may incur as a result of price changes associated with a particular financial or commodity instrument. The Company utilizes forward contracts, options, and swaps as part of its risk management strategies, to minimize unanticipated fluctuations in earnings caused by changes in commodity prices, interest rates and/or foreign currency exchange rates. All derivatives are recognized on the balance sheet at their fair value, unless they qualify for the Normal Purchase Normal Sale exemption.

Credit risk is the potential loss the Company may incur due to the counterparty’s non-performance. The Company is exposed to credit risk from interest rate, foreign currency and commodity derivatives with financial institutions. The Company has credit policies to manage their credit risk, including the use of an established credit approval process, monitoring of the counterparty positions and the use of master netting agreements.

The Company has elected to offset net derivative positions under master netting arrangements. The Company does not have any positions involving cash collateral (payables or receivables) under a master netting arrangement as of March 31, 2017 and 2016.

The Company does not have any credit-related contingent features associated with its derivative instruments.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company groups its recurring, non-recurring and disclosure-only fair value measurements into the following levels when making fair value measurement disclosures:



Level 1		Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2		Inputs are quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable and market-corroborated inputs which are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3		Inputs are derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or value drivers are unobservable.

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price). The Company and its subsidiaries use, as appropriate, a market approach (generally, data from market transactions), an income approach (generally, present value techniques and option-pricing models), and/or a cost approach (generally, replacement cost) to measure the fair value of an asset or liability. These valuation approaches incorporate inputs such as observable, independent market data and/or unobservable data that management believes are predicated on the assumptions market participants would use to price an asset or liability. These inputs may incorporate, as applicable, certain risks such as nonperformance risk, which includes credit risk.

Lead contracts, foreign currency contracts and interest rate contracts generally use an income approach to measure the fair value of these contracts, utilizing readily observable inputs, such as forward interest rates (e.g., London Interbank Offered Rate—“LIBOR”) and forward foreign currency exchange rates (e.g., GBP and euro) and commodity prices (e.g., London Metals Exchange), as well as inputs that may not be observable, such as credit valuation adjustments. When observable inputs are used to measure all or most of the value of a contract, the contract is classified as Level 2. Over-the-counter (OTC) contracts are valued using quotes obtained from an exchange, binding and non-binding broker quotes. Furthermore, the Company obtains independent quotes from the market to validate the forward price curves. OTC contracts include forwards, swaps and options. To the extent possible, fair value measurements utilize various inputs that include quoted prices for similar contracts or market-corroborated inputs.

When unobservable inputs are significant to the fair value measurement, the asset or liability is classified as Level 3. Additionally, Level 2 fair value measurements include adjustments for credit risk based on the Company’s own creditworthiness (for net liabilities) and its counterparties’ creditworthiness (for net assets). The Company assumes that observable market prices include sufficient adjustments for liquidity and modeling risks. The Company did not have any fair value measurements that transferred between Level 2 and Level 3 as well as Level 1 and Level 2.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach, which requires deferred tax assets and liabilities be recognized using enacted tax rates to measure the effect of temporary differences between book and tax bases on recorded assets and liabilities. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets, if it is more likely than not some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The need to establish valuation allowances against deferred tax assets is assessed quarterly. The primary factors used to assess the likelihood of realization are forecasts of future taxable income and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the net deferred tax assets.

The Company has not recorded United States income or foreign withholding taxes related to undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries because the Company currently plans to keep these amounts indefinitely invested overseas.

The Company recognizes tax related interest and penalties in income tax expense in its Consolidated Statement of Income.

With respect to accounting for uncertainty in income taxes, the Company evaluates tax positions to determine whether the benefits of tax positions are more likely than not of being sustained upon audit based on the technical merits of the tax position. For tax positions that are more likely than not of being sustained upon audit, the Company recognizes the largest amount of the benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. For tax positions that are not more likely than not of being sustained upon audit, the Company does not recognize any portion of the benefit. If the more likely than not

threshold is not met in the period for which a tax position is taken, the Company may subsequently recognize the benefit of that tax position if the tax matter is effectively settled, the statute of limitations expires, or if the more likely than not threshold is met in a subsequent period.

Deferred Financing Fees

Debt issuance costs that are incurred by the Company in connection with the issuance of debt are deferred and amortized to interest expense over the life of the underlying indebtedness, adjusted to reflect any early repayments.

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

The Company measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for the award of an equity instrument based on the grant-date fair value of the award, with such cost recognized over the applicable vesting period.

Market condition-based awards

The Company grants two types of market condition-based awards - market share units and performance market share units.

The fair value of the market share units is estimated at the date of grant using a binomial lattice model with the following assumptions: a risk-free interest rate, dividend yield, time to maturity and expected volatility. These units vest and are settled in common stock on the third anniversary of the date of grant. Market share units are converted into between zero and two shares of common stock for each unit granted at the end of a three-year performance cycle. The conversion ratio is calculated by dividing the average closing share price of the Company’s common stock during the ninety calendar days immediately preceding the vesting date by the average closing share price of the Company’s common stock during the ninety calendar days immediately preceding the grant date, with the resulting quotient capped at two. This quotient is then multiplied by the number of market share units granted to yield the number of shares of common stock to be delivered on the vesting date.

The fair value of the performance market share units is estimated at the date of grant using a Monte Carlo Simulation. A participant may earn between 0% to 200% of the number of performance market share units granted, based on the total shareholder return (the“TSR”) of the Company's common stock over a three-year period. The awards will cliff vest on the third anniversary of the grant date. The TSR is calculated by dividing the sixty or ninety calendar day average price at end of the period (as applicable) and the reinvested dividends thereon by such sixty or ninety calendar day average price at start of the period. The maximum number of awards earned is capped at 200% of the target award. Additionally, no payout will be awarded in the event that the TSR at the vesting date reflects less than a 25% return from the average price at the grant date. Performance market share units are similar to the market share units except that the targets are more difficult to achieve and may be tied to the TSR of a defined peer group.

The Company recognizes compensation expense using the straight-line method over the life of the market share units and performance market share units except for those issued to certain retirement-eligible participants, which are expensed on an accelerated basis. The Company estimates forfeitures rather than recognizing them when they occur.

Restricted Stock Units

The fair value of restricted stock units is based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. These awards generally vest, and are settled in common stock, at 25% per year, over a four year period from the date of grant. The Company recognizes compensation expense using the straight-line method over the life of the restricted stock units.

Stock Options

The fair value of the options granted is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model utilizing assumptions based on historical data and current market data. The assumptions include expected term of the options, risk-free interest rate, expected volatility, and dividend yield. The expected term represents the expected amount of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding, based on historical and forecasted exercise behavior. The risk-free rate is based on the rate at the grant date of zero-coupon U.S. Treasury Notes with a term equal to the expected term of the option. Expected volatility is estimated using historical volatility rates based on historical weekly price changes over a term equal to the expected term of the options. The Company’s dividend yield is based on historical data. The Company recognizes compensation expense using the straight-line method over the vesting period of the options except for those issued to certain retirement-eligible participants, which are expensed on an accelerated basis.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) are computed by dividing net earnings attributable to EnerSys stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that would occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. At March 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company had outstanding stock options, restricted stock units, market share units and performance market share units, which could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future.

Segment Reporting

A segment for reporting purposes is based on the financial performance measures that are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker to assess segment performance and to make decisions about a public entity’s allocation of resources. Based on this guidance, the Company reports its segment results based upon the three geographical regions of operations.


•	Americas, which includes North and South America, with segment headquarters in Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.,


•	EMEA, which includes Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with segment headquarters in Zug, Switzerland, and

•

Asia, which includes Asia, Australia and Oceania, with segment headquarters in Singapore.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” providing guidance on revenue from contracts with customers that will supersede most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. In July 2015, the FASB voted to delay the effective date for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permissible one year earlier. The standard permits the use of either modified retrospective or full retrospective transition methods. The Company has developed an implementation plan, which is currently in the assessment phase. The Company has not selected a transition method and is currently evaluating the impact that adoption of the standard will have on the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (Topic 330).” This update requires inventory to be measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. Subsequent measurement is unchanged for inventory measured using LIFO or the retail inventory method. This update will be effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively with earlier application permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. This update will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, “Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments (Topic 805).” The amendments in this update require that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The amendments in this update require that the acquirer record, in the same period’s financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted this standard in fiscal 2017 and this update did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)”, which sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract (i.e. lessees and lessors). This update requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase of the leased asset by the lessee. This classification will determine whether the lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months regardless of their classification. The new standard requires lessors to account for leases using an approach that is substantially equivalent to

existing guidance for sales-type leases, direct financing leases and operating leases. This update is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, using a modified retrospective approach, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact that the adoption will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (Topic 718)”. This update simplifies several aspects related to how share-based payments are accounted for and presented in the financial statements, including the accounting for forfeitures and tax-effects related to share-based payments at settlement, and the classification of excess tax benefits and shares surrendered for tax withholdings in the statement of cash flows. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company early adopted this standard as of April 1, 2016. The impact of the adoption of this standard was as follows:


•	approximately $1,316 of excess tax benefits was recorded through income tax expense for fiscal 2017, adopted on a prospective basis;


•	excess tax benefits were included within operating cash flows adopted on a prospective basis;


•	cash paid by the Company when directly withholding shares to satisfy an employee's statutory tax obligations continued to be classified as a financing activity; and


•	no impact on prior periods due to adopting the guidance on a prospective basis.

The Company has elected to continue its current policy of estimating forfeitures rather than recognizing forfeitures when they occur.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of 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 financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.