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Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 29, 2012
Significant Accounting Policies  
Significant Accounting Policies

1. Significant Accounting Policies

        Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Fossil, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries (the "Company"). The Company reports on a fiscal year reflecting the retail-based calendar (containing 4-4-5 week calendar quarters). References to 2012, 2011 and 2010 are for the fiscal years ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011, respectively. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. The Company is a leader in the design, development, marketing and distribution of contemporary, high quality fashion accessories on a global basis. The Company's products are sold primarily through department stores, specialty retailers and Company-owned retail stores worldwide.

        Use of Estimates are required in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to product returns, allowance for bad debt, inventories, long-lived assets, goodwill and trade names, income taxes, warranty costs, hedge accounting, litigation, reserves and stock-based compensation. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Management estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of the assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

        Concentration of Risk involves financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentration of credit risk and consist primarily of cash investments and accounts receivable. The Company places its cash investments with high-credit quality financial institutions and currently invests primarily in corporate debt securities and money market funds with major banks and financial institutions. Accounts receivable are generally diversified due to the number of entities comprising the Company's customer base and their dispersion across many geographic regions. The Company believes no significant concentration of credit risk exists with respect to these cash investments and accounts receivable.

        A significant portion of sales of the Company's products are supplied by manufacturers located outside of the U.S., primarily in Asia. While the Company is not dependent on any single manufacturer outside the U.S., the Company could be adversely affected by political or economic disruptions affecting the business or operations of third-party manufacturers located outside of the U.S. In fiscal years 2012 and 2011, two of the Company's majority-owned assembly factories accounted for more than 60% of the Company's total watch assembly and jewelry production.

        Cash Equivalents are considered all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase.

        Restricted Cash as of December 29, 2012 was comprised of $0.3 million in short-term balances, primarily pledged as collateral to secure bank guarantees for the purpose of obtaining retail space. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had short-term restricted cash of $5.9 million, primarily pledged as collateral to secure bank guarantees on behalf of the Company for payments related to prospective value-added tax liabilities. Short-term restricted cash is reported in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Company's consolidated balance sheets as a component of current assets. The Company also had long-term restricted cash balances of $1.0 million and $2.1 million as of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, pledged as collateral to secure bank guarantees for the purpose of obtaining retail space. This restricted cash is reported in intangible and other assets—net in the Company's consolidated balance sheets as a component of long-term assets.

        Securities Available for Sale consists of investments in publicly traded equity securities. By policy, the Company invests primarily in high-grade, marketable securities. Unrealized holding gains and losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive income in the Company's consolidated balance sheets as a component of stockholders' equity. In fiscal year 2011, the Company sold all of the debt securities it held at their approximate carrying value of $8.1 million.

        Accounts Receivable are stated net of allowances of approximately $65.3 million and $61.6 million for estimated customer returns and approximately $17.1 million and $18.2 million for doubtful accounts at the end of fiscal years 2012 and 2011, respectively. The Company's bad debt allowance increased during fiscal years 2011 and 2010 due to the challenging global economic environment. Due to an improvement in the aging of the Company's receivables and the resolution of certain customer bankruptcies, the Company was able to reduce its bad debt allowance in fiscal year 2012. The Company's policy is to maintain reserve balances for bankruptcies until the bankruptcies are actually settled. The total amount charged to cost and expenses relating to the Company's doubtful accounts receivables is not material to the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive income. See Schedule II—Valuations and Qualifying Accounts for more information regarding the Company's bad debt allowance.

        Inventories are stated at the lower of market or average cost, including any applicable duty and freight charges. Inventory held at consignment locations is included in the Company's finished goods inventory, and at the end of fiscal years 2012 and 2011 was $35.9 million and $18.5 million, respectively.

        Investments in which the Company has significant influence over the investee are accounted for utilizing the equity method. If the Company does not have significant influence over the investee, the cost method is utilized.

        Property, Plant and Equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets of thirty years for buildings, five years for furniture and fixtures and three to seven years for computer equipment and software. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the asset's useful life.

        Property, plant and equipment and other long-lived assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or conditions indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable based on expected undiscounted cash flows related to the asset. Impairment losses related to underperforming Company-owned retail stores of approximately $1.2 million, $1.0 million and $1.8 million were recorded in fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and are included in selling and distribution expenses in the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The Company also recorded a $3.7 million impairment loss related to a Company-owned office building in fiscal 2010, which was included in general and administrative expenses in the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive income. No impairment losses were recorded on Company-owned office buildings in fiscal years 2012 or 2011.

        Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets include the cost in excess of net tangible assets acquired (goodwill), trademarks, trade names, customer lists and patents. Trademarks, customer lists and patents are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which are generally three to twenty years. Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets, such as trade names acquired in business combinations, are evaluated for impairment annually as of the end of the fiscal year rather than amortized. Additionally, if events or conditions were to indicate the carrying value of a reporting unit or an indefinite-lived intangible asset may not be recoverable, the Company would evaluate the asset for impairment at that time. Impairment testing compares the carrying amount of the asset with its fair value. When the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment charge is recorded.

        The Company has three reporting units for which it evaluates goodwill for impairment. These reporting units are North America wholesale, Europe wholesale and Asia Pacific wholesale. The fair value of each reporting unit is estimated using market comparable information. If the estimated fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, no impairment charge is recorded. As of December 29, 2012, the fair value of each of these reporting units substantially exceeded its carrying value.

        Judgments and assumptions are inherent in the Company's estimate of future cash flows used to determine the estimate of the reporting unit's fair value. The most significant assumptions associated with the fair value calculations include net sales growth rates and discount rates. If the actual future sales results do not meet the assumed growth rates, future impairments of goodwill may be incurred.

        The Company estimates the fair value of its trade names using discounted cash flow methodologies. Due to the inherent uncertainties involved in making the estimates and assumptions used in the fair value analysis, actual results may differ, which could alter the fair value of the trade names and possibly result in impairment charges in future periods. The Company has completed the required annual impairment testing for trade names for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010. No impairment charges were recorded in fiscal years 2012 and 2011, and impairment charges of $1.8 million were recorded in fiscal year 2010. See Note 8—Intangible and Other Assets, for more information regarding impairment to the Company's trade names.

        Accrued Expenses Other includes liabilities relating to warranties, duty, deferred compensation, gift cards, forward contracts, deferred rent, and other liabilities which are current in nature.

        Other Long-Term Liabilities includes obligations relating to asset retirements, deferred rent, forward contracts and defined benefits relating to certain international employees that are not current in nature.

        Cumulative Translation Adjustment is included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and reflects the adjustments resulting from translating the financial statements of foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars. The functional currency of the Company's foreign subsidiaries is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates, which is generally the local currency of the country. Accordingly, assets and liabilities of the foreign subsidiaries are translated to U.S. dollars at fiscal year end exchange rates. Income and expense items are translated at daily or average monthly exchange rates. Changes in exchange rates that affect cash flows and the related receivables or payables are recognized as transaction gains and losses in determining net income. The Company incurred net foreign currency transaction gains, including gains and losses associated with the settlement of forward contracts, of approximately $5.6 million and $5.2 million in fiscal years 2012 and 2010, respectively, and a net loss of approximately $20.7 million in fiscal year 2011. These net gains and losses have been included in other income (expense)—net in the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

        Forward Contracts are entered into by the Company principally to hedge the future payment of intercompany inventory transactions by its non-U.S. subsidiaries. These cash flow hedges are stated at estimated fair value and changes in fair value are reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes on the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive income. If the Company was to settle its Euro, Canadian Dollar, Japanese Yen, British Pound, Australian Dollar, and Mexican Peso based forward contracts at fiscal year end 2012, the result would have been a net loss of approximately $1.8 million, net of taxes. This unrealized loss is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes on the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Additionally, to the extent that any of these contracts are not considered to be perfectly effective in offsetting the change in the value of the cash flows being hedged, any changes in fair value relating to the ineffective portion of these contracts would be recognized in other income (expense)—net on the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive income. See Note 9—Derivatives and Risk Management for more information regarding the Company's use of forward contracts.

        Litigation Reserves are estimated amounts for claims that are probable and can be reasonably estimated and are recorded as liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The likelihood of a material change in these estimated reserves would be dependent on new claims that may arise, changes in the circumstances used to estimate amounts for prior period claims and favorable or unfavorable final settlements of prior period claims. As additional information becomes available, the Company assesses the potential liability related to new claims and existing claims and revises estimates as appropriate. As new claims arise or circumstances change relative to prior claim assessments, revisions in estimates of the potential liability could materially impact the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial position.

        Stock-Based Compensation is accounted for in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation ("ASC 718"). The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes model to determine the fair value of stock options and stock appreciation rights on the date of grant. The model requires the Company to make assumptions concerning (i) the length of time employees will retain their vested stock options before exercising them ("expected term"), (ii) the volatility of the Company's common stock price over the expected term, and (iii) the number of stock options that will be forfeited. Changes in these assumptions can materially affect the estimate of fair value of stock-based compensation and, consequently, the related expense amounts recognized on the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

        Revenues are recognized at the point title and the risks and rewards of ownership have passed to the customer, based on the terms of sale. Revenue from sales of the Company's products including those that are subject to inventory consignment agreements is recognized when title and risk of loss transfers, delivery has occurred, the price to the buyer is determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. The Company accepts limited returns and may request that a customer return a product if the customer has an excess of any style that the Company has identified as being a poor performer for that customer or geographic location. The Company continually monitors returns and maintains a provision for estimated returns based upon historical experience and any specific issues identified. Product returns are accounted for as reductions to revenue, cost of sales, accounts receivable and an increase in inventory to the extent the returned product is resalable. While returns have historically been within management's expectations and the provisions established, future return rates may differ from those experienced in the past. In the event that the Company's products are performing poorly in the retail market and/or it experiences product damages or defects at a rate significantly higher than the historical rate, the resulting returns could have an adverse impact on the operating results for the period or periods in which such returns occur. Taxes imposed by governmental authorities on the Company's revenue-producing activities with customers, such as sales taxes and value added taxes, are excluded from net sales.

        Cost of Sales includes raw material costs, assembly labor, assembly overhead including depreciation expense, assembly warehousing costs and shipping and handling costs related to the movement of finished goods from assembly locations to sales distribution centers and from sales distribution centers to customer locations. Additionally, cost of sales includes customs duties, product packaging cost, royalty cost associated with sales of licensed products, the cost of molding and tooling and inventory shrinkage and damages.

        Selling and Distribution Expenses include sales and distribution labor costs, sales distribution center and warehouse facility costs, depreciation expense related to sales distribution and warehouse facilities, the four-wall operating costs of the Company's retail stores, point-of-sale expenses, advertising expenses and art, design and product development labor costs.

        General and Administrative Expenses include administrative support labor and "back office" or support costs such as treasury, legal, information services, accounting, internal audit, human resources and executive management costs. General and administrative expenses also include costs associated with stock-based compensation.

        Advertising Costs for in-store and media advertising as well as co-op advertising, catalog costs, product displays, show/exhibit costs, advertising royalties related to the sales of licensed brands, internet costs associated with affiliation fees, printing costs and promotional allowances are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs were approximately $175.3 million, $156.5 million and $123.8 million for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

        Noncontrolling Interest is recognized as equity in the Company's consolidated balance sheets, is reflected in net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in consolidated net income and is captured within the summary of changes in equity attributable to controlling and noncontrolling interests. Noncontrolling interests represent ownership interests in subsidiaries not held by the Company.

        Earnings Per Share ("EPS") is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted EPS adjusts basic EPS for the effects of dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding during each period using the treasury stock method.

        The following table reconciles the numerators and denominators used in the computations of both basic and diluted EPS (in thousands except per share data):

Fiscal Year
  2012   2011   2010  

Numerator:

                   

Net income attributable to Fossil, Inc. 

  $   343,401   $   294,702   $   255,205  
               

Denominator:

                   

Basic EPS computations:

                   

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

    60,959     63,298     66,701  
               

Basic EPS

  $ 5.63   $ 4.66   $ 3.83  
               

Diluted EPS computation:

                   

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

    60,959     63,298     66,701  

Stock options, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock units

    441     667     986  
               

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

    61,400     63,965     67,687  
               

Diluted EPS

  $ 5.59   $ 4.61   $ 3.77  
               

        Approximately 203,000 and 40,000 shares issuable under stock-based awards were not included in the diluted EPS calculation in fiscal years 2012 and 2011, respectively, because they were antidilutive. There were no antidilutive shares in fiscal year 2010.

        Income Taxes are provided for under the asset and liability method for temporary differences in the recognition of certain revenues and expenses for tax and financial reporting purposes. The Company applies the provisions of ASC 740, Income Taxes ("ASC 740"), which addresses how the benefit of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return should be recorded in the financial statements. Tax benefits associated with uncertain tax positions are recognized in the period in which one of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) the more likely than not recognition threshold is satisfied; (ii) the position is ultimately settled through negotiation or litigation; or (iii) the statute of limitations for the taxing authority to examine and challenge the position has expired. Tax benefits associated with an uncertain tax position are derecognized in the period in which the more likely than not recognition threshold is no longer satisfied.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

        In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2012-02. The amendments in this update permit an entity to make a qualitative assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset other than goodwill is impaired. If an entity concludes that it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset other than goodwill is less than its carrying amount, it is required to perform the quantitative impairment test for that asset. This ASU aligns the guidance of impairment testing for indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill with that in ASU 2011-08, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment ("ASU 2011-08"). The guidance in ASU 2012-02 will be effective for the Company for annual and interim periods for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012, and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations or financial position.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

        In May 2011, FASB issued ASU 2011-04, Fair Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs ("ASU 2011-04"). FASB intends the new guidance to achieve common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements in U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and International Financial Reporting Standards. The amended guidance changes certain fair value measurement principles and enhances the disclosure requirements, particularly for Level 3 assets and liabilities for which the Company will be required to disclose quantitative information about the unobservable inputs used in fair value measurements. These changes became effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2012. The adoption of ASU 2011-04 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations or financial position.

        In June 2011, FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income ("ASU 2011-05"). ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the consolidated statement of shareholder's equity and comprehensive income and requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements. The Company adopted the single continuous statement beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2012. ASU 2011-05, as amended by ASU 2011-12, became effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2012. The adoption of ASU 2011-05 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations or financial position.

        In September 2011, FASB issued ASU 2011-08. ASU 2011-08 simplifies the assessment of goodwill for impairment by allowing companies the option to assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If a company concludes from the qualitative assessment that impairment is more likely than not, the entity is required to perform the two-step quantitative impairment test. These changes became effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2012. The adoption of ASU 2011-08 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations or financial position.