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Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Harley-Davidson, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the Company), including the accounts of the groups of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company (HDMC) and Harley-Davidson Financial Services (HDFS). In addition, certain variable interest entities (VIEs) related to secured financing are consolidated as the Company is the primary beneficiary. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated. All of the Company’s subsidiaries are wholly owned and are included in the consolidated financial statements. Substantially all of the Company’s international subsidiaries use their respective local currency as their functional currency. Assets and liabilities of international subsidiaries have been translated at period-end exchange rates, and revenues and expenses have been translated using average exchange rates for the period. The Company operates in two principal reportable segments: Motorcycles & Related Products (Motorcycles) and Financial Services. Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) 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. Cash and Cash Equivalents – The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Marketable Securities – The Company’s marketable securities consisted of the following at December 31 (in thousands):
|  | 2015 |  | 2014
Available-for-sale securities: corporate bonds |  | $ | 45,192 |  |  | $ | 57,325 |
Trading securities: mutual funds |  | 36,256 |  |  | 33,815 |
Total marketable securities |  | $ | 81,448 |  |  | $ | 91,140 |
The Company’s available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value with any unrealized gains or losses reported in other comprehensive income. During 2015 and 2014, the Company recognized gross unrealized losses of $0.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively, or losses of $0.4 million and $0.4 million, net of tax, respectively, to adjust amortized cost to fair value. The marketable securities have contractual maturities that generally come due over the next 4 to 16 months. The Company's trading securities relate to investments held by the Company to fund certain deferred compensation obligations. The trading securities are carried at fair value with gains and losses recorded in net income and investments are included in other long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Accounts Receivable, Net – The Company’s motorcycles and related products are sold to independent dealers outside the U.S. and Canada generally on open account and the resulting receivables are included in accounts receivable in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The allowance for doubtful accounts deducted from total accounts receivable was $2.9 million and $3.5 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Accounts receivable are written down once management determines that the specific customer does not have the ability to repay the balance in full. The Company’s sales of motorcycles and related products in the U.S. and Canada are financed by the purchasing dealers through HDFS and the related receivables are included in finance receivables in the consolidated balance sheets. Finance Receivables, Net – Finance receivables include both retail and wholesale finance receivables, net, including amounts held by VIEs. Finance receivables are recorded in the financial statements at amortized cost net of an allowance for credit losses. The provision for credit losses on finance receivables is charged to earnings in amounts sufficient to maintain the allowance for credit losses at a level that is adequate to cover estimated losses of principal inherent in the existing portfolio. Portions of the allowance for credit losses are specified to cover estimated losses on finance receivables specifically identified for impairment. The unspecified portion of the allowance covers estimated losses on finance receivables which are collectively reviewed for impairment. Finance receivables are considered impaired when management determines it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the terms of the loan agreement. The retail portfolio primarily consists of a large number of small balance, homogeneous finance receivables. The Company performs a periodic and systematic collective evaluation of the adequacy of the retail allowance for credit losses. The Company utilizes loss forecast models which consider a variety of factors including, but not limited to, historical loss trends, origination or vintage analysis, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, the value of the underlying collateral, recovery rates and current economic conditions including items such as unemployment rates. Retail finance receivables are not evaluated individually for impairment prior to charge-off and therefore are not reported as impaired loans. The wholesale portfolio is primarily composed of large balance, non-homogeneous loans. The Company’s wholesale allowance evaluation is first based on a loan-by-loan review. A specific allowance for credit losses is established for wholesale finance receivables determined to be individually impaired when management concludes that the borrower will not be able to make full payment of contractual amounts due based on the original terms of the loan agreement. The impairment is determined based on the cash that the Company expects to receive discounted at the loan’s original interest rate or the fair value of the collateral, if the loan is collateral-dependent. In establishing the allowance, management considers a number of factors including the specific borrower’s financial performance as well as ability to repay. Finance receivables in the wholesale portfolio that are not individually evaluated for impairment are segregated, based on similar risk characteristics, according to the Company’s internal risk rating system and collectively evaluated for impairment. The related allowance is based on factors such as the Company’s past loan loss experience, current economic conditions as well as the value of the underlying collateral. Impaired finance receivables also include loans that have been modified in troubled debt restructurings as a concession to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. Generally, it is the Company’s policy not to change the terms and conditions of finance receivables. However, to minimize the economic loss, the Company may modify certain impaired finance receivables in troubled debt restructurings. Total restructured finance receivables are not significant. Repossessed inventory representing recovered collateral on impaired finance receivables is recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable value. In the period during which the collateral is repossessed, the related finance receivable is adjusted to the fair value of the collateral through a charge to the allowance for credit losses and reclassified to repossessed inventory. Repossessed inventory is included in other current assets and was $17.7 million and $13.4 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Asset-Backed Financing – The Company participates in asset-backed financing both through term asset-backed securitization transactions and through asset-backed commercial paper conduit facilities. The Company treats these transactions as secured borrowing because either they are transferred to consolidated VIEs or the Company maintains effective control over the assets and does not meet the accounting sale requirements under ASC Topic 860, "Transfers and Servicing." In the Company's asset-backed financing programs, the Company transfers retail motorcycle finance receivables to special purpose entities (SPE), which are considered VIEs under U.S. GAAP. Each SPE then converts those assets into cash, through the issuance of debt. The Company is required to consolidate any VIEs in which it is deemed to be the primary beneficiary through having power over the significant activities of the entity and having an obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE which are potentially significant to the VIE. The Company is considered to have the power over the significant activities of its term asset-backed securitization and asset-backed U.S. commercial paper conduit facility VIEs due to its role as servicer. Servicing fees are typically not considered potentially significant variable interests in a VIE. However, the Company retains a residual interest in the VIEs in the form of a debt security, which gives the Company the right to receive benefits that could be potentially significant to the VIE. Therefore, the Company is the primary beneficiary and consolidates all of these VIEs within its consolidated financial statements. The Company is not the primary beneficiary of the asset-backed Canadian commercial paper conduit facility VIE; therefore, the Company does not consolidate the VIE. However, the Company treats the conduit facility as a secured borrowing as it maintains effective control over the assets transferred to the VIE and therefore does not meet the requirements for sale accounting under ASC Topic 860. As such, the Company retains the transferred assets and the related debt within its Consolidated Balance Sheet. Servicing fees paid by VIEs to the Company are eliminated in consolidation and therefore are not recorded on a consolidated basis. The Company is not required, and does not currently intend, to provide any additional financial support to its VIEs. Investors and creditors only have recourse to the assets held by the VIEs. Inventories – Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Substantially all inventories located in the United States are valued using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. Other inventories totaling $266.6 million at December 31, 2015 and $232.8 million at December 31, 2014 are valued at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. Property, Plant and Equipment – Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost. Depreciation is determined on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The following useful lives are used to depreciate the various classes of property, plant and equipment: buildings – 30 years; building equipment and land improvements – 7 years; machinery and equipment – 3 to 10 years; furniture and fixtures – 5 years; and software – 3 to 7 years. Accelerated methods of depreciation are used for income tax purposes. Goodwill – Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition cost over the fair value of the net assets purchased. Goodwill is tested for impairment, based on financial data related to the reporting unit to which it has been assigned, at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The impairment test involves comparing the estimated fair value of the reporting unit associated with the goodwill to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill must be adjusted to its implied fair value. During 2015 and 2014, the Company performed a quantitative test on its goodwill balances for impairment and no adjustments were recorded to goodwill as a result of those reviews. Long-lived Assets – The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets to be held and used when events and circumstances warrant such review. If the carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset for assets to be held and used. The Company also reviews the useful life of its long-lived assets when events and circumstances indicate that the actual useful life may be shorter than originally estimated. In the event that the actual useful life is deemed to be shorter than the original useful life, depreciation is adjusted prospectively so that the remaining book value is depreciated over the revised useful life. Asset groups classified as held for sale are measured at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell, and a loss is recognized for any initial adjustment required to reduce the carrying amount to the fair value less cost to sell in the period the held for sale criteria are met. The fair value less cost to sell must be assessed each reporting period the asset group remains classified as held for sale. Gains or losses not previously recognized resulting from the sale of an asset group will be recognized on the date of sale. Product Warranty and Recall Campaigns – The Company currently provides a standard two-year limited warranty on all new motorcycles sold worldwide, except for Japan, where the Company provides a standard three-year limited warranty on all new motorcycles sold. In addition, the Company offers a one-year warranty for Parts & Accessories (P&A). The warranty coverage for the retail customer generally begins when the product is sold to a retail customer. The Company maintains reserves for future warranty claims using an estimated cost, which are based primarily on historical Company claim information. Additionally, the Company has from time to time initiated certain voluntary recall campaigns. The Company reserves for all estimated costs associated with recalls in the period that management approves and commits to the recall. Changes in the Company’s warranty and recall liability were as follows (in thousands):
|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Balance, beginning of period |  | $ | 69,250 |  |  | $ | 64,120 |  |  | $ | 60,263 |
Warranties issued during the period |  | 59,259 |  |  | 60,331 |  |  | 59,022 |
Settlements made during the period |  | (96,529 | ) |  | (74,262 | ) |  | (64,462 | )
Recalls and changes to pre-existing warranty liabilities |  | 42,237 |  |  | 19,061 |  |  | 9,297 |
Balance, end of period |  | $ | 74,217 |  |  | $ | 69,250 |  |  | $ | 64,120 |
The liability for recall campaigns was $10.2 million, $9.8 million and $4.0 million at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Derivative Financial Instruments – The Company is exposed to certain risks such as foreign currency exchange rate risk, interest rate risk and commodity price risk. To reduce its exposure to such risks, the Company selectively uses derivative financial instruments. All derivative transactions are authorized and executed pursuant to regularly reviewed policies and procedures, which prohibit the use of financial instruments for speculative trading purposes. All derivative instruments are recognized on the balance sheet at fair value (see Note 7). In accordance with ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging,” the accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and, further, on the type of hedging relationship. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated as fair value hedges, along with the gain or loss on the hedged item, are recorded in current period earnings. For derivative instruments that are designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of gains and losses that result from changes in the fair value of derivative instruments is initially recorded in other comprehensive income (OCI) and subsequently reclassified into earnings when the hedged item affects income. The Company assesses, at both the inception of each hedge and on an on-going basis, whether the derivatives that are used in its hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of the hedged items. Any ineffective portion is immediately recognized in earnings. No component of a hedging derivative instrument’s gain or loss is excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. Derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting are recorded at fair value and any changes in fair value are recorded in current period earnings. Refer to Note 9 for a detailed description of the Company’s derivative instruments. Motorcycles and Related Products Revenue Recognition – Sales are recorded when title and ownership is transferred, which is generally when products are shipped to wholesale customers (independent dealers). The Company may offer sales incentive programs to both wholesale and retail customers designed to promote the sale of motorcycles and related products. The total costs of these programs are generally recognized as revenue reductions and are accrued at the later of the date the related sales are recorded or the date the incentive program is both approved and communicated. Financial Services Revenue Recognition – Interest income on finance receivables is recorded as earned and is based on the average outstanding daily balance for wholesale and retail receivables. Accrued and uncollected interest is classified with finance receivables. Certain loan origination costs related to finance receivables, including payments made to dealers for certain retail loans, are deferred and recorded within finance receivables, and amortized over the estimated life of the contract. Retail finance receivables are contractually delinquent if the minimum payment is not received by the specified due date. Retail finance receivables are generally charged-off when the receivable is 120 days or more delinquent, the related asset is repossessed or the receivable is otherwise deemed uncollectible. All retail finance receivables accrue interest until either collected or charged-off. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, all retail finance receivables are accounted for as interest-earning receivables. Wholesale finance receivables are delinquent if the minimum payment is not received by the contractual due date. Wholesale finance receivables are written down once management determines that the specific borrower does not have the ability to repay the loan in full. Interest continues to accrue on past due finance receivables until the date the finance receivable becomes uncollectible and the finance receivable is placed on non-accrual status. The Company will resume accruing interest on these accounts when payments are current according to the terms of the loans and future payments are reasonably assured. While on non-accrual status, all cash received is applied to principal or interest as appropriate. Insurance and protection product commissions as well as commissions on the sale of extended service contracts are recognized when contractually earned. Deferred revenue related to extended service contracts was $4.6 million and $5.7 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Research and Development Expenses – Expenditures for research activities relating to product development and improvement are charged against income as incurred and included within selling, administrative and engineering expenses in the consolidated statement of income. Research and development expenses were $161.2 million, $138.3 million and $152.2 million for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Advertising Costs – The Company expenses the production cost of advertising the first time the advertising takes place. Advertising costs relate to the Company’s efforts to promote its products and brands through the use of media. During 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company incurred $119.8 million, $107.4 million and $90.7 million in advertising costs, respectively. Shipping and Handling Costs – The Company classifies shipping and handling costs as a component of cost of goods sold. Share-Based Award Compensation Costs – The Company recognizes the cost of its share-based awards in its statement of income. The total cost of the Company’s equity awards is equal to their grant date fair value and is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the service periods of the awards. The total cost of the Company’s liability for cash-settled awards is equal to their settlement date fair value. The liability for cash-settled awards is revalued each period based on a recalculated fair value adjusted for vested awards. Total share-based award compensation expense recognized by the Company during 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $29.4 million, $37.9 million and $41.2 million, respectively, or $18.5 million, $23.9 million and $26.0 million net of taxes, respectively. Income Tax Expense – The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes. New Accounting Standards Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU No. 2014-09). ASU No. 2014-09 is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14 Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Deferral of Effective Date (ASU No. 2015-14) to defer the effective date of the new revenue recognition standard by one year to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and for interim periods therein. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02 Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (ASU 2015-02). ASU No. 2015-02 amends the guidance within Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 810, "Consolidation,” to change the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain legal entities. The Company is required to adopt ASU No. 2015-02 for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company believes the adoption of ASU No. 2015-02 will not have an impact on its financial results and will only impact the content of the current disclosure. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03 Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs (ASU 2015-03). ASU No. 2015-03 amends the guidance within ASC Topic 835, "Interest", to require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt premiums and discounts. In August 2015, the FASB further clarified their views on debt costs incurred in connection with a line of credit arrangement by issuing ASU No. 2015-15 Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements (ASU 2015-15). ASU No. 2015-15 amends the guidance within ASC Topic 835, “Interest”, to allow an entity to defer and present debt issuance costs associated with a line of credit arrangement as an asset, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line of credit arrangement. The Company plans to adopt both ASUs for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015 and for interim periods therein, on a retrospective basis. Upon adoption, the Company will reclassify debt issuance costs, other than debt issuance costs related to line of credit arrangements, from other assets to debt on the balance sheet. The Company intends to continue to classify debt issuance costs related to the line of credit arrangements as an asset, regardless of whether it has any outstanding borrowings on the line of credit arrangements. At December 31, 2015, the Company had $20.4 million of debt issuance costs, which includes $2.1 million of debt issuance costs related to line of credit arrangements, recorded as assets on the balance sheet. In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16 Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments (ASU No. 2015-16). ASU No. 2015-16 eliminates the requirement for an acquirer in a business combination to account for measurement-period adjustments retrospectively. Acquirers must recognize measurement-period adjustments during the period in which they determine the amounts. This would include any amounts they would have recorded in previous periods if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. The Company is required to adopt ASU 2015-16 for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not anticipate any material impacts upon adopting this standard in 2016. In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17 Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (ASU No. 2015-17). ASU No. 2015-17 eliminates the requirement for a Company to separate deferred income tax liabilities and assets into current and noncurrent amounts on a classified statement of financial position and requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent. The Company is required to adopt ASU 2015-17 for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016 on either a retrospective or prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the timing and basis of adoption. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01 Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (ASU No. 2016-01). ASU No. 2016-01 enhances the existing financial instruments reporting model by modifying fair value measurement tools, simplifying impairment assessments for certain equity instruments, and modifying overall presentation and disclosure requirements. The Company is required to adopt ASU 2016-01 for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017 on a prospective basis. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption.

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