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Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Description of the Business and Segments The Company manufactures, distributes and services high quality tractor-mounted mowing and other vegetation maintenance equipment, street sweepers, excavators, vacuum trucks, forestry and tree maintenance equipment, snow removal equipment, leaf collection equipment, pothole patchers, zero turn radius mowers, agricultural implements and related aftermarket parts and services. The Company manages its business through two principal reporting segments: Industrial and Agricultural which are discussed in Note 18. Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Alamo Group Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Alamo Group”), all of which are wholly owned. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Reclassifications At the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company began reporting operating results on the basis of two segments, the Industrial Division and the Agricultural Division. Prior to the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company had been reporting its operating results on the basis of three segments which included the Company's European Division. The Company's European Division was a mixture of industrial and agricultural products similar to those within the other two segments. The prior period segment information has been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the current segment presentation in Note 1 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amount of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Judgments related to asset impairment and certain reserves are particularly subject to change. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Such estimates include, but are not limited to, allowance for doubtful accounts, reserve for sales discounts, estimated realizable value on obsolete and slow-moving inventory, warranty reserve, estimates related to pension accounting; estimates related to fair value for purposes of assessing goodwill, long-lived assets and intangible assets for impairment; estimates related to income taxes; and estimates related to contingencies. Foreign Currency The Company translates the assets and liabilities of foreign-owned subsidiaries at rates in effect at the end of the year. Revenues and expenses are translated at average rates in effect during the reporting period. Translation adjustments are included in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, there was no restricted cash. Concentrations of Credit Risk Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of accounts receivable. The credit risk is limited because of the large numbers and types of customers and their geographic dispersion. Inventories Inventories of U.S. operating subsidiaries are stated at the lower of cost (last-in, first-out method) (“LIFO”) or market, and the Company’s international subsidiaries’ inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) (“FIFO”) or market. Inventory costs include those costs directly attributable to products, including raw materials, labor and overhead. Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant, and equipment are stated on the basis of cost. Major renewals and betterments are charged to the property accounts while replacements, maintenance and repairs, which do not improve or extend the lives of the respective assets, are expensed to the current period. Depreciation is provided at amounts calculated to amortize the cost of the assets over their estimated useful economic lives using the straight-line method. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment, rental equipment, and purchased intangibles subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If circumstances require a long-lived asset or asset group to be tested for possible impairment, the Company first compares non-discounted cash flows expected to be generated by that asset group to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of the long-lived asset or asset group is not recoverable on a non-discounted cash flow basis, an impairment is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds fair value. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and third-party independent appraisals, as considered necessary. Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but is instead tested for impairment at least annually, or whenever events or circumstances change between the annual impairment tests that make it likely that an impairment may have occurred, such as a significant adverse change in the business climate or a decision to sell all or a portion of a reporting unit. The Company performs its annual test for goodwill impairment related to its reporting units on October 1 of each fiscal year. Impairment testing for goodwill is done at the reporting unit level. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment (also known as a component). A component of an operating segment is a reporting unit if the component constitutes a business for which discrete financial information is available, and segment management regularly reviews the operating results of that component. We perform a qualitative assessment for all of our reporting units to determine whether it is more likely than not that an impairment exists. Factors considered include macroeconomic, industry and competitive conditions, legal and regulatory environment, historical financial performance and significant changes in the reporting unit. If the qualitative assessment indicates that it is more likely than not that an impairment exists, then a quantitative assessment is performed. Alternatively, we may also bypass the qualitative assessment and go ahead and perform step 1 to determine if the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. If the fair value of the reporting unit is lower than its carrying amount, goodwill is written down for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value. However, the loss recognized cannot exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. We typically use discounted cash flow models to determine the fair value of a reporting unit. The assumptions used in these models are consistent with those we believe a hypothetical marketplace participant would use. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding goodwill. Intangible Assets The Company has intangible assets with both definite and indefinite useful lives. The definite-lived assets are trade names and trademarks, customer and dealer relationships, and patents and drawings that are subject to amortization with useful lives ranging from 3 years to 25 years. Impairment of definite-lived assets is discussed as part of the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets paragraph above. The indefinite-lived assets not subject to amortization consist of trade names. The Company tests its indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis at year-end, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that indicate that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset could be below its carrying amount. The impairment test consists of comparing the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset, determined using the relief from royalty method, with its carrying amount. An impairment loss would be recognized for the carrying amount in excess of its fair value. See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding intangible assets. Leases We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in other non-current assets, accrued liabilities, and other long-term liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in property, plant and equipment, accrued liabilities, and other long-term liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives. Our lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We have elected to not account for the lease and non-lease components separately for most of our asset classes with the exception of real-estate. We have also elected to exclude all lease agreements with an initial term of 12 months or less from the lease recognition requirements as allowed by ASC. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding leases. Pensions The Company records annual amounts relating to its pension and post-retirement plans based on calculations that incorporate various actuarial and other assumptions, including discount rates, mortality, assumed rates of return, compensation increases, turnover rates and health care cost trend rates. The Company reviews its assumptions on an annual basis and makes modifications to the assumptions based on current rates and trends when it is appropriate to do so. The effect of modifications to those assumptions is recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and amortized to net periodic cost over future periods using the corridor method. The Company believes that the assumptions utilized in recording its obligations under its plans are reasonable based on its experience and market conditions. The net periodic costs are recognized as employees render the services necessary to earn the post-retirement benefits. Revenue Recognition The majority of the Company's revenue is recognized from product sales under contracts with customers. The Company presents two reportable operating segments within its financial statements: Industrial and Agricultural. Contract terms and performance obligations within each contractual agreement are generally consistent for both divisions, with small differences that do not have a significant impact on the revenue recognition considerations under Topic 606. Revenues are recognized when we satisfy our performance obligation to transfer product to our customers, which typically occurs at a point in time upon shipment or delivery of the product, and for an amount that reflects the transaction price that is allocated to the performance obligation. Our contracts with customers state the final terms of sale, including the description, quantity and price for goods sold. In the normal course of business, we generally do not accept product returns. The transaction price is the consideration that we expect to be entitled to in exchange for our products. Some of our contracts contain variable consideration in the form of sales incentives to our customers, such as discounts and rebates. For contracts that include variable consideration, we estimate the factors that determine the variable consideration in order to establish the transaction price. We have elected that any taxes collected from customers and remitted to government authorities (i.e., sales tax, use tax, etc.) are excluded from the measurement of the transaction price and therefore are excluded from net sales in the consolidated statements of operations. There are instances where we provide shipping services in relation to the goods sold to our customers. Shipping and handling costs that occur before the customer obtains control of the goods are deemed to be fulfillment activities and are included in cost of goods sold. We have elected to account for shipping and handling activities that occur after the customer has obtained control of a good as fulfillment activities (i.e., an expense) rather than as a promised service. Rental Equipment The Company enters into operating lease agreements with customers related to the rental of certain equipment. In accounting for these leases, the cost of the equipment purchased or manufactured by the Company is recorded as an asset, and is depreciated over its estimated useful life. Accumulated depreciation relating to the rental equipment was $14,587,000 and $11,145,000 on December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Shipping and Handling Costs The Company’s policy is to include shipping and handling costs in costs of goods sold. Advertising We charge advertising costs to expense as incurred. Advertising and marketing expense related to operations for fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017 was approximately $12,177,000, $11,773,000 and $9,566,000, respectively. Advertising and marketing expenses are included in Selling, General and Administrative expenses (“SG&A”). Research and Development Product development and engineering costs charged to SG&A amounted to $11,984,000, $10,429,000, and $9,849,000 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. Commitments and Contingencies Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines and penalties and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The Company's policy is to accrue for legal costs expected to be incurred in connection with loss contingencies. Income Taxes Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities, and are measured by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to the future years in which deferred tax assets or liabilities are expected to be settled or realized. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, available tax carry backs and tax planning strategies in making this assessment other than those which we have reserved. We have elected to treat the global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) tax as a period expense. We previously considered substantially all of the earnings in our foreign subsidiaries to be permanently reinvested and, accordingly, recorded no deferred income taxes on such earnings. As a result of the fundamental changes to the taxation of multinational corporations as a result of TCJA, we no longer intend to permanently reinvest all of the historical undistributed earnings of our foreign subsidiaries. We will distribute earnings from our European subsidiaries, while maintaining our permanent reinvestment for our other foreign subsidiaries. GAAP requires recognition of a deferred tax liability in the reporting period in which its intent to no longer permanently reinvest its historical undistributed foreign earnings is made. There will generally be no U.S. federal taxes imposed on such future distributions of European foreign earnings. Stock-Based Compensation The Company has granted options to purchase its common stock to certain employees and directors of the Company and its affiliates under various stock option plans at no less than the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant. These options are granted for a term not exceeding ten years and are forfeited in the event that the employee or director terminates his or her employment or relationship with the Company or one of its affiliates other than by retirement or death. These options generally vest over five years. All option plans contain anti-dilutive provisions that permit an adjustment of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock represented by each option for any change in capitalization. Excess tax benefits or awards that are recognized in equity related to stock option exercises are reflected as cash flows from financing activities in the statement of cash flows. The fair value of each stock option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation method with the following assumptions noted: 1.The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury rate over the expected life of the option at the time of the grant. 2.The dividend yield is calculated as the ratio of dividends paid per share of common stock to the stock price on the date of the grant. 3.The expected volatility factors are based on the historical movement of the Company’s common stock price over the expected life of the option. 4.The expected life is the average length of time in which officers, other employees, and non-employee directors are expected to exercise their options, and which are primarily based on historical experience. The Company calculated the fair value for options with the following weighted-average assumptions for 2019, 2018, and 2017:
Fair Value Calculation Assumptions for Stock Compensation |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | December 31, |  |  |  |
|  | 2019 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Risk-free interest rate |  | 2.43 | % |  | 2.94 | % |  | 2.23 | %
Dividend yield |  | 0.5 | % |  | 0.5 | % |  | 0.5 | %
Volatility factors |  | 31.2 | % |  | 34.5 | % |  | 37.6 | %
Weighted-average expected life |  | 8.0 years |  | 8.0 years |  | 8.0 years
Earnings per Common Share (“EPS”) Basic EPS is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the year. The treasury stock method is used to compute diluted EPS which gives effect to the potential dilution of earnings that could have occurred if additional shares were issued for awards granted under the Company’s incentive stock option plans. The treasury stock method assumes proceeds obtained upon exercise of awards granted under the incentive stock option plans are used to purchase outstanding common stock at the average market price during the period.

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