Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly owned subsidiaries, and its majority owned joint venture. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

The Company entered into a joint venture with Meisheng Culture & Creative Corp., for the purpose of providing certain JAKKS licensed and non-licensed toys and consumer products to agreed upon territories of the People’s Republic of China. The joint venture will include a subsidiary in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone that is expected to sell, distribute and market these products, which can include dolls, plush, role play products, action figures, costumes, seasonal items, technology and app-enhanced toys and many more, based on top entertainment licenses and JAKKS’ own proprietary brands. The Company owns fifty-one percent of the joint venture.

Cash and cash equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less, when acquired, to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains its cash in bank deposits which, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. The Company believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk of cash and cash equivalents.

Cash and cash equivalents are maintained at financial institutions and, at times, balances may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has never experienced any losses related to these balances.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Credit is granted to customers on an unsecured basis. Credit limits and payment terms are established based on extensive evaluations made on an ongoing basis throughout the fiscal year of the financial performance, cash generation, financing availability, and liquidity status of each customer. Customers are reviewed at least annually, with more frequent reviews performed as necessary, depending upon the customer’s financial condition and the level of credit being extended. For customers who are experiencing financial difficulties, management performs additional financial analyses before shipping to those customers on credit. The Company uses a variety of financial arrangements to ensure collectability of accounts receivable of customers deemed to be a credit risk, including requiring letters of credit, purchasing various forms of credit insurance with unrelated third parties, or requiring cash in advance of shipment.

The Company records an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon management’s assessment of the business environment, customers’ financial condition, historical collection experience, accounts receivable aging, customer disputes, and the collectability of specific customer accounts.

Use of estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual future results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue recognition

Revenue is recognized upon the shipment of goods to customers or their agents, depending upon terms, provided there are no uncertainties regarding customer acceptance, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.

Generally the Company does not allow product returns. It provides its customers a negotiated allowance for breakage or defects, which is recorded when the related revenue is recognized. However, the Company does make occasional exceptions to this policy and consequently accrues a return allowance based upon historic return amounts and management estimates. The Company occasionally grants credits to facilitate markdowns and sales of slow moving merchandise. These credits are recorded as a reduction of gross sales at the time of the sale.

The Company’s reserve for sales returns and allowances decreased by $7.2 million from $24.5 million as of December 31, 2014 to $17.3 million as of December 31, 2015. This decrease was primarily due to certain customers taking their year-end allowances related to 2014 and 2015 during 2015, as well as reduced markdown allowances in 2015.

Fair value measurements

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. In determining fair value, the Company uses various methods including market, income and cost approaches. Based upon these approaches, the Company often utilizes certain assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and/or the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. These inputs can be readily observable, market-corroborated, or unobservable inputs. The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Based upon observable inputs used in the valuation techniques, the Company is required to provide information according to the fair value hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy ranks the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values into three broad levels as follows:

Level 1:	Valuations for assets and liabilities traded in active markets from readily available pricing sources for market transactions involving identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2:	Valuations for assets and liabilities traded in less active dealer or broker markets. Valuations are obtained from third-party pricing services for identical or similar assets or liabilities.
Level 3:	Valuations incorporate certain assumptions and projections in determining the fair value assigned to such assets or liabilities.

In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based upon inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based upon the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

The following table summarizes the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31 (in thousands):

			Fair Value Measurements
	Carrying Amount as of		As of December 31, 2014
	December 31, 2014		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3

Cash equivalents	$	12,166	$	12,166	$	—	$	—
Marketable securities		220		220		—		—
	$	12,386	$	12,386	$	—	$	—

			Fair Value Measurements
	Carrying Amount as of		As of December 31, 2015
	December 31, 2015		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3

Cash equivalents	$	13,218	$	13,218	$	—	$	—
Marketable securities		—		—		—		—
	$	13,218	$	13,218	$	—	$	—

The Company’s accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses represent financial instruments. The carrying value of these financial instruments is a reasonable approximation of fair value.

The fair value of the 4.25% convertible senior notes payable due 2018 as of December 31, 2014 and 2015 was $96.3 million and $102.0 million respectively, based upon the most recent quoted market prices, and the fair value of the 4.875% convertible senior notes payable due 2020 as of December 31, 2014 and 2015 was $100.9 million and $112.3 million, respectively, based upon the most recent quoted market prices. The fair values of the convertible senior notes are considered to be Level 2 measurements on the fair value hierarchy.

For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, there was no impairment to the value of the Company’s non-financial assets.

Inventory

Inventory, which includes the ex-factory cost of goods, capitalized warehouse costs and in-bound freight and duty, is valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market, net of inventory obsolescence reserve, and consists of the following (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2014		2015
Raw materials	$	1,040	$	3,717
Finished goods		77,787		56,827
	$	78,827	$	60,544

Property and equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost and are being depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives as follows:

Office equipment	5 years
Automobiles	5 years
Furniture and fixtures	5 - 7 years
Leasehold improvements	Shorter of length of lease or 10 years

The Company uses the usage method as its depreciation methodology for molds and tools used in the manufacturing of its products, which is more closely correlated to production of goods. The Company believes that the usage method more accurately matches costs with revenues. Furthermore, the useful estimated life of molds and tools is two years.

For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014, and 2015, the Company’s aggregate depreciation expense related to property and equipment was $11.8 million, $10.4 million, and $10.9 million, respectively.

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Other comprehensive income (loss) includes all changes in equity from non-owner sources. The Company accounts for other comprehensive income in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) ASC 220, “Comprehensive Income.” All the activity in other comprehensive income (loss) and all amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) relate to foreign currency translation adjustments.

Advertising

Production costs of commercials and programming are charged to operations in the period during which the production is first aired. The costs of other advertising, promotion and marketing programs are charged to operations in the period incurred. Advertising expense for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, was approximately $10.1 million, $19.3 million, and $15.8 million, respectively.

The Company also participates in cooperative advertising arrangements with certain customers, whereby it allows a discount from invoiced product amounts in exchange for customer purchased advertising that features the Company’s products. Typically, these discounts range from 1% to 6% of gross sales, and are generally based upon product purchases or specific advertising campaigns. Such amounts are accrued when the related revenue is recognized or when the advertising campaign is initiated. These cooperative advertising arrangements are accounted for as direct selling expenses.

Income taxes

The Company does not file a consolidated return with its foreign subsidiaries. The Company files federal and state returns and its foreign subsidiaries file returns in their respective jurisdictions. Deferred taxes are provided on an asset and liability method whereby deferred tax assets are recognized as deductible temporary differences and operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax basis. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.

Foreign Currency Translation Exposure

The Company’s reporting currency is the US dollar. The translation of its net investment in subsidiaries with non-US dollar functional currencies subjects the Company to currency exchange rate fluctuations in its results of operations and financial position. Assets and liabilities of subsidiaries with non-US dollar functional currencies are translated into US dollars at year-end exchange rates. Income, expense, and cash flow items are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the year. The resulting currency translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss/gain within stockholders’ equity. The Company’s primary currency translation exposures in 2013, 2014 and 2015 were related to its net investment in entities having functional currencies denominated in the Hong Kong dollar.

Foreign Currency Transaction Exposure

Currency exchange rate fluctuations may impact the Company’s results of operations and cash flows. The Company’s currency transaction exposures include gains and losses realized on unhedged inventory purchases and unhedged receivables and payables balances that are denominated in a currency other than the applicable functional currency. Gains and losses on unhedged inventory purchases and other transactions associated with operating activities are recorded in the components of operating income in the consolidated statement of operations. Inventory purchase transactions denominated in the Hong Kong dollar were the primary transactions that caused foreign currency transaction exposure for the Company in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Accounting for the impairment of finite-lived tangible and intangible assets

Long-lived assets with finite lives, which include property and equipment and intangible assets other than goodwill, are evaluated for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable through the estimated undiscounted future cash flows from the use of these assets. When any such impairment exists, the related assets will be written down to fair value. Finite-lived intangible assets consist primarily of product technology rights, acquired backlog, customer relationships, product lines and license agreements. These intangible assets are amortized over the estimated economic lives of the related assets. There were no impairments for years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized, but are tested for impairment at least annually at the reporting unit level. Losses in value are recorded when material impairment has occurred in the underlying assets or when the benefits of the identified intangible assets are realized. Indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill consist of trademarks.

The carrying value of goodwill and trademarks are based upon cost, which is subject to management’s current assessment of fair value. Management evaluates fair value recoverability using both objective and subjective factors. Objective factors include cash flows and analysis of recent sales and earnings trends. Subjective factors include management’s best estimates of projected future earnings and competitive analysis and the Company’s strategic focus.

For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, there was no impairment to the value of the Company's goodwill or trademarks.

Share-based Compensation

The Company measures all employee share-based compensation awards using a fair value method and records such expense in its consolidated financial statements. The Company recorded $1.1 million, $1.5 million, and $1.6 million of restricted stock expense, in 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively. See Note 17 for further details relating to share based compensation.

Earnings per share

The following table is a reconciliation of the weighted-average shares used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) for the periods presented (in thousands, except per share data):

	2013
				Weighted
				Average
	Loss			Shares		Per Share
Basic EPS
Loss available to common stockholders	$	(53,906	)		22,200	$	(2.43	)
Effect of dilutive securities:
Assumed conversion of convertible senior notes		—			—
Options and warrants		—			—
Unvested restricted stock grants		—			—
Diluted EPS
Loss available to common stockholders plus assumed exercises and conversion	$	(53,906	)		22,200	$	(2.43	)

	2014
			Weighted
			Average
	Income		Shares		Per Share
Basic EPS
Income available to common stockholders	$	21,509		20,948	$	1.03
Effect of dilutive securities:
Assumed conversion of convertible senior notes		7,345		20,388
Options and warrants		—		—
Unvested restricted stock grants		—		180
Diluted EPS
Income available to common stockholders plus assumed exercises and conversion	$	28,854		41,516	$	0.70

	2015
			Weighted
			Average
	Income		Shares		Per Share
Basic EPS
Income available to common stockholders	$	23,254		19,435	$	1.20
Effect of dilutive securities:
Assumed conversion of convertible senior notes		7,385		23,369
Options and warrants		—		—
Unvested performance stock grants		—		347
Unvested restricted stock grants		—		170
Diluted EPS
Income available to common stockholders plus assumed exercises and conversion	$	30,639		43,321	$	0.71

Basic earnings per share is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding during the period (which consist of warrants, options and convertible debt to the extent they are dilutive). For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, the convertible notes interest and related common share equivalent of 10,037,523, nil and nil, respectively, were excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation because they were anti-dilutive. Potentially dilutive stock options and warrants of 1,627,144, 1,601,272 and 1,518,596 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share since they would have been anti-dilutive. Potentially dilutive restricted stock of 111,195, nil and nil for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share since they would have been anti-dilutive.

The Company is also party to a prepaid forward contract to purchase 3,112,840 shares of its common stock that are to be delivered over a settlement period in 2020. The number of shares to be delivered under the prepaid forward contract has been removed from the weighted-average basic and diluted shares outstanding. Any dividends declared and paid on the shares underlying the forward contract are to be reverted back to the Company based on the contractual terms of the forward contract.

Debt with Conversion and Other Options

In July 2013, the Company sold an aggregate of $100.0 million principal amount of 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018 (the “2018 Notes”). The 2018 Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company paying interest semi-annually in arrears on August 1 and February 1 of each year at a rate of 4.25% per annum and will mature on August 1, 2018. The initial conversion rate for the 2018 Notes will be 114.3674 shares of the Company’s common per $1,000 principal amount of notes, equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $8.74 per share of common stock, subject to adjustment in certain events. Holders of the 2018 Notes may convert their notes upon the occurrence of specified events. Upon conversion, the 2018 Notes will be settled in shares of the Company’s common stock.

In June 2014, the Company sold an aggregate of $115.0 million principal amount of 4.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020 (the “2020 Notes”). The 2020 Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company paying interest semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year at a rate of 4.875% per annum and will mature on June 1, 2020. The initial conversion rate for the 2020 Notes will be 103.7613 shares of our common per $1,000 principal amount of notes, equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $9.64 per share of common stock, subject to adjustment in certain events. Holders of the 2020 Notes may convert their notes upon the occurrence of specified events. Upon conversion, the 2020 Notes will be settled in shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $110.4 million from the offering of which $24.0 million was used to repurchase 3.1 million shares of the Company’s common stock under a prepaid forward purchase contract. In January 2016 the Company repurchased $2.0 million of the 2020 Notes.

In June 2014, the Company effectively repurchased 3,112,840 shares of its common stock at an average cost of $7.71 per share for an aggregate amount of $24.0 million pursuant to a prepaid forward share repurchase agreement entered into with Merrill Lynch International (“ML”). These repurchased shares are treated as retired for basic and diluted EPS purposes although they remain legally outstanding. The Company reflects the aggregate purchase price of its common shares repurchased as a reduction to stockholders’ equity allocated to treasury stock. Any dividends declared and paid on the shares underlying the forward contract are to be reverted back to the Company based on the contractual terms of the forward contract.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications were made to the prior year consolidated financial statements to conform to current year presentation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). The Company is currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of ASU 2014-09 on our consolidated financial statements and has not yet determined the method by which we will adopt the standard in 2018.

In August 2014, the FASB amended the FASB Accounting Standards Codification and amended Subtopic 205-40, “Presentation of Financial Statements — Going Concern.” This amendment prescribes that an entity’s management should evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. The amendments will become effective for the Company’s annual and interim reporting periods beginning January 1, 2017. Upon adoption the Company will use this guidance to evaluate going concern.

In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-03, “Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” (“ASU 2015-03”). ASU 2015-03 requires an entity to present debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments in this update. The amendment will be effective for our annual and interim reporting periods beginning January 1, 2016 and should be applied on a retrospective basis. The adoption of ASU 2015-03 will not have any impact on our results of operations, but will result in debt issuance costs being presented as a direct reduction from the carrying amount of debt liabilities.

In July 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-11, “Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory” (“ASU 2015-11”). ASU 2015-11 requires inventory accounted for under the FIFO or average cost method to be measured using the lower of cost and net realizable value. The amendments are effective prospectively for fiscal years and for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of ASU 2015-11 on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-15, “Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements” (“ASU 2015-15”). ASU 2015-15 codifies an SEC staff announcement that entities are permitted to defer and present debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements as assets. The announcements were effective upon issuance. The adoption of ASU 2015-15 does not have any impact on The Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update. 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes” (“ASU 2015-17”). ASU 2015-17 requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. This ASU is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2015-17 will have on its financial position or financial statement disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, “Leases” (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 establishes a right-of-use (“ROU”) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of this new standard on its financial statements.