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Organization and Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Significant Accounting Policies | Organization and Significant Accounting Policies Polaris Inc. (“Polaris” or the “Company”), a Minnesota corporation, and its subsidiaries are engaged in the design, engineering, manufacturing and marketing of innovative, high-quality, high-performance Off-Road Vehicles (ORV), Snowmobiles, Motorcycles, Global Adjacent Markets vehicles, and Boats. Polaris products, together with related parts, garments and accessories, as well as aftermarket accessories and apparel, are sold worldwide through a network of independent dealers and distributors, and retail stores. The primary markets for the Company’s products are the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Australia and Mexico. Basis of presentation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Polaris and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Income from financial services is reported as a component of operating income to better reflect income from ongoing operations, of which financial services has a significant impact. The Company evaluates consolidation of entities under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 810. This Topic requires management to evaluate whether an entity or interest is a variable interest entity and whether the company is the primary beneficiary. Polaris used the guidelines to analyze the Company’s relationships, including its relationship with Polaris Acceptance, and concluded that there were no variable interest entities requiring consolidation by the Company. Reclassifications. Certain reclassifications of previously reported segment gross profit amounts have been made to conform to the current year presentation. The reclassifications had no impact on the consolidated balance sheets, statements of income, comprehensive income, equity, or cash flows, as previously reported. Refer to Note 15 for additional information. 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 reported amounts of assets and liabilities and 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. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Fair value measurements. Fair value is the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified using the following hierarchy, which is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation as of the measurement date: Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 — Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. In making fair value measurements, observable market data must be used when available. When inputs used to measure fair value fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the level within which the fair value measurement is categorized is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company utilizes the market approach to measure fair value for its non-qualified deferred compensation assets and liabilities, and the income approach for foreign currency contracts and interest rate contracts. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities, and for the income approach the Company uses significant other observable inputs to value its derivative instruments used to hedge foreign currency and interest rate transactions. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below (in millions):
| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2020
Asset (Liability) | Total |  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3
Non-qualified deferred compensation assets | $ | 48.3 |  |  | $ | 48.3 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Total assets at fair value | $ | 48.3 |  |  | $ | 48.3 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Non-qualified deferred compensation liabilities | $ | (48.3) |  |  | $ | (48.3) |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Foreign exchange contracts, net | (2.3) |  |  | — |  |  | (2.3) |  |  | — |
Interest rate contracts, net | (18.1) |  |  | — |  |  | (18.1) |  |  | — |
Total liabilities at fair value | $ | (68.7) |  |  | $ | (48.3) |  |  | $ | (20.4) |  |  | $ | — |
| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2019
Asset (Liability) | Total |  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3
Non-qualified deferred compensation assets | $ | 48.9 |  |  | $ | 48.9 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Total assets at fair value | $ | 48.9 |  |  | $ | 48.9 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Non-qualified deferred compensation liabilities | $ | (48.9) |  |  | $ | (48.9) |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Foreign exchange contracts, net | (0.1) |  |  | — |  |  | (0.1) |  |  | — |
Interest rate contracts, net | (8.0) |  |  | — |  |  | (8.0) |  |  | — |
Total liabilities at fair value | $ | (57.0) |  |  | $ | (48.9) |  |  | $ | (8.1) |  |  | $ | — |
Fair value of other financial instruments. The carrying values of the Company’s short-term financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and short-term debt, including current maturities of long-term debt, finance lease obligations and notes payable, approximate their fair values. At December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the fair value of the Company’s long-term debt, finance lease obligations and notes payable was approximately $1,552.3 million and $1,769.3 million, respectively, and was determined primarily using Level 2 inputs, including quoted market prices or discounted cash flows based on quoted market rates for similar types of debt. The carrying value of long-term debt, finance lease obligations and notes payable including current maturities was $1,450.7 million and $1,693.5 million as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The Company measures certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed as part of acquisitions are measured at fair value. Refer to Notes 3 and 7 for additional information. The Company will impair or write off an investment and recognize a loss when events or circumstances indicate there is impairment in the investment that is other-than-temporary. The amount of loss is determined by measuring the investment at fair value. Refer to Note 11 for additional information. Cash equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. Such investments consist principally of money market mutual funds. Restricted cash. The Company classifies amounts of cash that are restricted in terms of their use and withdrawal separately within other long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company’s financial exposure to collection of accounts receivable is limited due to its agreements with certain finance companies. For receivables not serviced through these finance companies, the Company provides a reserve for doubtful accounts based on historical collection experience, the age of the accounts receivables, credit quality of our customers, current and expected economic conditions, and other factors that may affect our ability to collect from customers. Inventories. Inventory costs include material, labor and manufacturing overhead costs, including depreciation expense associated with the manufacture and distribution of the Company’s products. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or net realizable value. The major components of inventories are as follows (in millions):
| December 31, 2020 |  | December 31, 2019
Raw materials and purchased components | $ | 533.5 |  |  | $ | 344.6 |
Service parts, garments and accessories | 330.5 |  |  | 357.0 |
Finished goods | 381.3 |  |  | 476.2 |
Less: reserves | (67.7) |  |  | (56.7) |
Inventories | $ | 1,177.6 |  |  | $ | 1,121.1 |
Investment in finance affiliate. The caption Investment in finance affiliate in the consolidated balance sheets represents the Company’s fifty percent equity interest in Polaris Acceptance, a partnership agreement between Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance Corporation and one of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries. Polaris Acceptance provides floor plan financing to Polaris dealers in the United States. The Company’s investment in Polaris Acceptance is accounted for under the equity method, and is recorded as investment in finance affiliate in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s allocable share of the income of Polaris Acceptance has been included as a component of income from financial services in the consolidated statements of income. Refer to Note 10 for additional information. Investment in other affiliates. The Company’s investment in other affiliates is included within Other long-term assets in the consolidated balance sheets, and represents the Company’s investment in nonmarketable securities of strategic companies. For each investment, the Company assesses the level of influence in determining whether to account for the investment under the cost method or equity method. For equity method investments, the Company’s proportionate share of income or losses is recorded in the consolidated statements of income. The Company will write down or write off an investment and recognize a loss if and when events or circumstances indicate there is impairment in the investment that is other-than-temporary. Refer to Note 11 for additional information. Property and equipment. Property and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the respective assets, ranging from 10-40 years for buildings and improvements and from 1-7 years for equipment and tooling. Depreciation of assets recorded under finance leases is included with depreciation expense. Fully depreciated tooling is eliminated from the accounting records annually. Goodwill and other intangible assets. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of acquired businesses over the net of the fair value of identifiable tangible net assets and identifiable intangible assets purchased and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is tested at least annually for impairment and is tested for impairment more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The Company completes its annual goodwill impairment test as of the first day of the fourth quarter. The Company may first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of each reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. A qualitative assessment requires that the Company considers events or circumstances including macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance, changes in management or key personnel, changes in strategy, changes in customers, changes in the composition or carrying amount of a reporting unit’s net assets, and changes in the Company’s stock price. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, or if the Company elects to bypass the qualitative test and proceed to a quantitative test, then the quantitative goodwill impairment test is performed. A quantitative test includes comparing the fair value of each reporting unit to the carrying amount of the reporting unit, including goodwill. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying amount of the reporting unit, an impairment is recognized in an amount equal to the difference, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Under the quantitative goodwill impairment test, the fair value of each reporting unit is determined using a discounted cash flow analysis and market approach. Determining the fair value of the reporting units requires the use of significant judgment, including discount rates, assumptions in the Company’s long-term business plan about future revenues and expenses, capital expenditures, and changes in working capital, which are dependent on internal forecasts, estimation of long-term growth for each reporting unit, and determination of the discount rate. These plans take into consideration numerous factors including historical experience, anticipated future economic conditions, including the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in raw material prices and growth expectations for the industries and end markets in which the Company participates. For its annual test, the Company completed a qualitative assessment for the ORV, Snow, Motorcycles and Global Adjacent Markets reporting units and a quantitative goodwill test for the Boats reporting unit. No assessment was performed for the Aftermarket reporting unit as it did not have a goodwill balance as of the annual testing date. The Company’s primary identifiable intangible assets include: dealer/customer relationships, brand/trade names, developed technology, and non-compete agreements. Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are amortized and those identifiable intangibles with indefinite lives are not amortized. Identifiable intangible assets that are subject to amortization are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives are tested for impairment annually or more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The Company’s identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives include brand/trade names. The impairment test consists of a comparison of the fair value of the brand/trade name with its carrying value. The Company completes its annual impairment test as of the first day of the fourth quarter each year for identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives. Refer to Note 7 for additional information on goodwill and other intangible assets. Revenue recognition. With respect to wholegood vehicles, boats, and parts, garments and accessories (“PG&A”), revenue is recognized when the Company transfers control of the product to the customer. With respect to services provided by the Company, revenue is recognized upon completion of the service or over the term of the service agreement in proportion to the costs expected to be incurred in satisfying the obligations over the term of the service period. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring goods or providing services. Sales, value add, and other taxes the Company collects concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue. When the right of return exists, we adjust the consideration for the estimated effect of returns. We estimate expected returns based on historical sales levels, the timing and magnitude of historical sales return levels as a percent of sales, type of product, type of customer and a projection of this experience into the future. Historically, product returns, whether in the normal course of business or resulting from repurchases made under floor plan financing programs, have not been material. However, the Company has agreed to repurchase products repossessed by the finance companies up to certain limits. The Company’s financial exposure is limited to the difference between the amount paid to the finance companies and the amount received on the resale of the repossessed product. No material losses have been incurred under these agreements. Refer to Note 2 for additional information. Sales promotions and incentives. The Company provides for estimated sales promotion and incentive expenses, which are recognized as a component of sales in measuring the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring goods or providing services. Examples of sales promotion and incentive programs include dealer and consumer rebates, volume incentives, retail financing programs and sales associate incentives. Sales promotion and incentive expenses are estimated based on current programs and historical rates for each product line. The Company records these amounts as a liability in the consolidated balance sheet until they are ultimately paid. Adjustments to sales promotions and incentives accruals are made as actual usage becomes known in order to properly estimate the amounts necessary to generate consumer demand based on market conditions as of the balance sheet date. Dealer holdback programs. Dealer holdback represents a portion of the invoiced sales price that is expected to be subsequently returned to the dealer or distributor as a sales incentive upon the ultimate retail sale of the product. Holdback amounts reduce the ultimate net price of the products purchased by the Company’s dealers or distributors and, therefore, reduce the amount of sales the Company recognizes. The portion of the invoiced sales price estimated as the holdback is recognized as “dealer holdback” liability on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet until paid or forfeited. The minimal holdback adjustments in the estimated holdback liability due to forfeitures are recognized in net sales. Payments are made to dealers or distributors at various times during the year subject to previously established criteria. Shipping and handling costs. The Company records shipping and handling costs as a component of cost of sales when control has transferred to the customer. Research and development expenses. The Company records research and development expenses in the period in which they are incurred as a component of operating expenses. Advertising expenses. The Company records advertising expenses as a component of selling and marketing expenses in the period in which they are incurred. In the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, Polaris incurred $95.8 million, $77.4 million and $65.0 million of advertising expenses, respectively. Product warranties. The Company typically provides a limited warranty for its vehicles and boats for a period of six months to ten years, depending on the product. The Company provides longer warranties in certain geographical markets as determined by local regulations and customary practice and may also provide longer warranties related to certain promotional programs. The Company’s standard warranties require the Company, generally through its dealer network, to repair or replace defective products during such warranty periods. The warranty reserve is established at the time of sale to the dealer or distributor based on management’s best estimate using historical rates and trends. The Company records these amounts as a liability in the consolidated balance sheet until they are ultimately paid. Adjustments to the warranty reserve are made based on actual claims experience in order to properly estimate the amounts necessary to settle future and existing claims on products sold as of the balance sheet date. The warranty reserve includes the estimated costs related to recalls, which are accrued when probable and estimable. Factors that could have an impact on the warranty reserve include the following: changes in manufacturing quality, shifts in product mix, changes in warranty coverage periods, impacts on product usage (including weather), product recalls and changes in sales volume. The activity in the warranty reserve during the periods presented was as follows (in millions):
| For the Years Ended December 31,
| 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Balance at beginning of year | $ | 136.2 |  |  | $ | 121.8 |  |  | $ | 123.8 |
Additions to reserve related to acquisitions | — |  |  | 8.8 |  |  | 19.5 |
Additions charged to expense | 123.7 |  |  | 122.9 |  |  | 105.0 |
Warranty claims paid, net | (119.1) |  |  | (117.3) |  |  | (126.5) |
Balance at end of year | $ | 140.8 |  |  | $ | 136.2 |  |  | $ | 121.8 |
Leases. The Company leases certain manufacturing facilities, retail stores, warehouses, distribution centers, office space, land, and equipment. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet; the Company recognizes lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company does not separate non-lease components from the lease components to which they relate, and instead accounts for each separate lease and non-lease component associated with that lease component as a single lease component for all underlying asset classes. As most of the Company's leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its estimated incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Some leases include one or more options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from one to 20 years or more. Such options are included in the lease term when it is reasonably certain that the option will be exercised. Certain leases also include options to purchase the leased property. The depreciable life of assets and leasehold improvements are limited by the expected lease term, unless there is a transfer of title or purchase option reasonably certain of exercise. Certain lease agreements include rental payments that are variable based on usage or are adjusted periodically for inflation. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. Share-based employee compensation. The Company recognizes in the financial statements the grant-date fair value of stock options and other equity-based compensation issued to employees. Determining the appropriate fair-value model and calculating the fair value of share-based awards at the date of grant requires judgment. The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of employee stock options, and the Monte Carlo model to estimate the fair value of employee performance restricted stock units that include a market condition. These pricing models also require the use of input assumptions, including expected volatility, expected life, expected dividend yield, and expected risk-free rate of return. The Company utilizes historical volatility as the Company believes this is reflective of market conditions. The expected life of the awards is based on historical exercise patterns. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on observed interest rates appropriate for the terms of awards. The dividend yield assumption is based on the Company’s history of dividend payouts. The Company develops an estimate of the number of share-based awards that will be forfeited due to employee turnover. Changes in the estimated forfeiture rate can have a significant effect on reported share-based compensation, as the effect of adjusting the rate for all expense amortization is recognized in the period the forfeiture estimate is changed. If the actual forfeiture rate is higher or lower than the estimated forfeiture rate, then an adjustment is made to increase or decrease the estimated forfeiture rate, which will result in a decrease or increase to the expense recognized in the financial statements. If forfeiture adjustments are made, they would affect gross margin and operating expenses. All stock options have time-based vesting conditions. The Company estimates the likelihood and the rate of achievement for performance share-based awards, specifically long-term compensation grants of performance-based restricted stock unit awards. Changes in the estimated rate of achievement can have a significant effect on reported share-based compensation expenses as the effect of a change in the estimated achievement level is recognized in the period that the likelihood factor changes. If adjustments in the estimated rate of achievement are made, they would be reflected in gross profit and operating expenses. Fluctuations in the Company’s stock price can have an effect on reported share-based compensation expenses for liability-based awards. The impact from fluctuations in the Company’s stock price is recognized in the period of the change, and is reflected in gross profit and operating expenses. Refer to Note 4 for additional information. Derivative instruments and hedging activities. Changes in the fair value of a derivative are recognized in earnings unless the derivative qualifies as a hedge. To qualify as a hedge, the Company must formally document, designate and assess the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting. The Company does not use any financial contracts for trading purposes. The Company enters into foreign exchange contracts to manage currency exposures from certain of its purchase commitments denominated in foreign currencies and transfers of funds from its foreign subsidiaries. These contracts meet the criteria for cash flow hedges. Gains and losses on the Canadian dollar and Australian dollar contracts at settlement are recorded in non-operating other (income) expense, net in the consolidated income statements, and gains and losses on the Mexican peso contracts at settlement are recorded in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of income. The contracts are recorded in other current assets or other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net. The Company enters into interest rate swaps in order to maintain a balanced risk of fixed and floating interest rates associated with the Company’s debt. These contracts meet the criteria for cash flow hedges. The contracts are recorded in other current assets or other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net. Refer to Note 14 for additional information. Foreign currency translation. The functional currency for each of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is their respective local currencies. The assets and liabilities in all of the Company’s foreign entities are translated at the foreign exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date. Translation gains and losses are reflected as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net in the shareholders’ equity section of the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Revenues and expenses in all of the Company’s foreign entities are translated at the average foreign exchange rate in effect for each month of the quarter. Transaction gains and losses including intercompany transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the entity involved are included in other (income) expense, net in the consolidated statements of income. Comprehensive income. Components of comprehensive income include net income, foreign currency translation adjustments, unrealized gains or losses on derivative instruments, retirement benefit plan activity, and other activity. The Company discloses comprehensive income in separate consolidated statements of comprehensive income. New accounting pronouncements. Financial instruments. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, and in November 2018 issued a subsequent amendment, ASU 2018-19, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. Topic 326 replaces existing incurred loss impairment guidance and establishes a single allowance framework for financial assets carried at amortized cost. The Company adopted Topic 326 on January 1, 2020, using a modified retrospective transition method. The adoption of Topic 326 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, equity or cash flows. Fair Value Measurement. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which amends ASC 820 to eliminate, modify, and add certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The Company adopted ASU 2018-13 on January 1, 2020. The adoption of ASU 2018-13 did not have a material impact on the Company’s disclosures. Income Taxes. In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which simplifies the accounting for incomes taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify the accounting for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. ASU 2019-12 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2020, and is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2021. The adoption of the ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, equity or cash flows. Reference Rate Reform. In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This ASU provides practical expedients and exception for applying U.S. GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The FASB also issued ASU 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope in January 2021, which adds implementation guidance to clarify which optional expedients in Topic 848 may be applied to derivative instruments that do not reference LIBOR or a reference rate that is expected to be discontinued, but that are being modified as a result of the discounting transition. The ASUs may be applied through December 31, 2022 and are applicable to our contracts and hedging relationships that reference LIBOR. We are still evaluating whether to apply any of the expedients and/or exceptions included in these ASUs. There are no other new accounting pronouncements that are expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

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