XML 29 R18.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2021

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 25, 2021, the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings, Comprehensive Income, and Shareholders' Equity for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2021 and September 26, 2020, and the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the thirty-nine weeks then ended have been prepared by Valmont Industries Inc. (the Company), without audit. In the opinion of management, all necessary adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) have been made to present fairly the financial statements as of September 25, 2021 and for all periods presented.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2020. The results of operations for the period ended September 25, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year.

Inventories

InventoriesInventory is valued at the lower of cost, determined on the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method or market. Finished goods and manufactured goods inventories include the costs of acquired raw materials and related factory labor and overhead charges required to convert raw materials to manufactured and finished goods.

Pension Benefits

The Company incurs expenses in connection with the Delta Pension Plan ("DPP"). The DPP was acquired as part of the Delta plc acquisition in fiscal 2010 and has no members that are active employees. In order to measure expense and the related benefit obligation, various assumptions are made including discount rates used to value the obligation, expected return on plan assets used to fund these expenses and estimated future inflation rates. These assumptions are based on historical experience as well as current facts and circumstances. An actuarial analysis is used to measure the expense and liability associated with pension benefits.

Stock Plans

The Company maintains stock-based compensation plans approved by the shareholders, which provide that the Human Resource Committee of the Board of Directors may grant incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, and bonuses of common stock. At September 25, 2021, 453,718 shares of common stock remained available for issuance under the plans.

Under the plans, the exercise price of each option equals the closing market price at the date of the grant. Options vest beginning on the first anniversary of the grant in equal amounts over three years or on the grant's fifth anniversary. Expiration of grants is seven years to ten years from the date of grant. Restricted stock units and awards generally vest in equal installments over three years beginning on the first anniversary of the grant.

Fair Value

The Company applies the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”) which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The provisions of ASC 820 apply to other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. As defined in ASC 820, 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.

ASC 820 establishes a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value will be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

The categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value.

Trading Securities: The assets and liabilities recorded for the investments held in the Valmont Deferred Compensation Plan at September 25, 2021 of $29,481 ($35,125 at December 26, 2020) represent mutual funds, invested in debt and equity securities, classified as trading securities in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 320, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, considering the employee's ability to change investment allocation of their deferred compensation at any time. The Company's ownership of shares in Delta EMD Pty. Ltd. (JSE:DTA) is also classified as trading securities. The shares are valued at $99 and $202 as of September 25, 2021 and December 26, 2020, respectively, which is the estimated fair value. Quoted market prices are available for these securities in an active market and therefore categorized as a Level 1 input.

Derivative Financial Instruments: The fair value of foreign currency and commodity forward contracts, and cross currency contracts is based on a valuation model that discounts cash flows resulting from the differential between the contract price and the market-based forward rate.


			Fair Value Measurement Using:
	Carrying Value September 25, 2021		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Trading Securities	$	29,580	$	29,580	$	—	$	—
Derivative financial instruments, net	7,001		—		7,001		—


			Fair Value Measurement Using:
	Carrying Value December 26, 2020		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Trading Securities	$	35,327	$	35,327	$	—	$	—
Liabilities:
Derivative financial instruments, net	(5,911)		—		(5,911)		—

Long-Lived Assets

The Company's other non-financial assets include goodwill and other intangible assets, which are classified as Level 3 items. These assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as part of annual impairment testing. Note 4 to these condensed consolidated financial statements contain additional information related to goodwill and intangible asset impairments recognized in fiscal 2020.

The Company is monitoring the outlook for wind energy in Northern Europe which would affect the net sales and gross profit assumptions in the cash flow projections for the Company’s offshore and other complex steel structures reporting unit. This reporting unit has net property, plant, and equipment of $38,694, the Valmont SM trade name of $8,386, and a customer relationship, net of accumulated amortization, of $4,927. If the market outlook declines further, the Company will have to analyze the recoverability of the long-lived assets which may result in the recognition of an impairment.

Leases

Leases The Company's operating leases are included in other assets and operating lease liabilities. During the second quarter of 2021, the Company commenced on a new corporate headquarters operating lease with straight-line annual expense of approximately $5,100, a 2% annual increase in lease payment, and a 25 year term. In recognition of this lease, an operating lease asset of $71,853 and an operating lease long-term liability of $71,196 was incurred. These amounts are included within other assets and operating lease liabilities, respectively, in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 25, 2021.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive Income (Loss)Comprehensive income (loss) includes net earnings, currency translation adjustments, certain derivative-related activity and changes in net actuarial gains/losses from a pension plan. Results of operations for foreign subsidiaries are translated using the average exchange rates during the period. Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rates in effect on the balance sheet dates.

Revenue Recognition

The Company determines the appropriate revenue recognition for our contracts by analyzing the type, terms and conditions of each contract or arrangement with a customer. Contracts with customers for all businesses are fixed-price with sales tax excluded from revenue, and do not include variable consideration. Discounts included in contracts with customers, typically early pay discounts, are recorded as a reduction of net sales in the period in which the sale is recognized. Contract revenues are classified as product when the performance obligation is related to the manufacturing of goods. Contract revenues are classified as service when the performance obligation is the performance of a service. Service revenue is primarily related to the Coatings segment.

Customer acceptance provisions exist only in the design stage of our products and acceptance of the design by the customer is required before the project is manufactured and delivered to the customer. The Company is not entitled to any compensation solely based on design of the product and does not recognize revenue associated with the design stage. There is one performance obligation for revenue recognition. No general rights of return exist for customers once the product has been delivered and the Company establishes provisions for estimated warranties. The Company does not sell extended warranties for any of its products.

Shipping and handling costs associated with sales are recorded as cost of goods sold. The Company elected to use the practical expedient of treating freight as a fulfillment obligation instead of a separate performance obligation and ratably recognize freight expense as the structure is being manufactured, when the revenue from the associated customer contract is being recognized over time. With the exception of the Utility segment and the wireless communication structures product line, the Company’s inventory is interchangeable for a variety of each segment’s customers. The Company elected the practical expedient to not disclose the partially satisfied performance obligation at the end of the period when the contract has an original expected duration of one year or less. In addition, the Company elected the practical expedient to not adjust the amount of consideration to be received in a contract for any significant financing component if payment is expected within twelve months of transfer of control of goods or services.

Segment and Product Line Revenue Recognition

The Utility segment revenues are derived from manufactured steel and concrete structures for the North America utility industry and offshore and other complex structures used in energy generation and distribution outside of the United States. Steel and concrete utility structures are engineered to customer specifications resulting in limited ability to sell the structure to a different customer if an order is canceled after production commences. The continuous transfer of control to the customer is evidenced either by contractual termination clauses or by our rights to payment for work performed to-date plus a reasonable profit as the products do not have an alternative use to the Company. Since control is transferring over time, revenue is recognized based on the extent of progress towards completion of the performance obligation. The selection of the method to measure progress towards completion requires judgment. For our steel and concrete utility and wireless communication structure product lines, we generally recognize revenue on an inputs basis, using total production hours incurred to-date for each order as a percentage of total hours estimated to produce the order. The completion percentage is applied to the order’s total revenue and total estimated costs to determine reported revenue, cost of goods sold and gross profit. Production of an order, once started, is typically completed within three months. Revenue from the offshore and other complex structures business is also recognized using an inputs method, based on the ratio of costs incurred to-date to the total estimated costs at completion of the performance obligation. External sales agents are used in certain sales of steel and concrete structures; the Company has chosen to use the practical expedient to expense estimated commissions owed to third parties by recognizing them proportionately as the goods are manufactured.

The ESS segment revenues are derived from the manufacture and distribution of poles, towers, and components for lighting, transportation, and highway safety, engineered access systems, and wireless communication markets. For the lighting, transportation, and highway safety product lines, revenue is recognized upon shipment or delivery of goods to the customer depending on contract terms, which is the same point in time that the customer is billed. For Access Systems, revenue is generally recognized upon delivery of goods to the customer which is the same point in time that the customer is billed. The wireless communication product line has large regional customers who have unique product specifications for communication structures. When the customer contract includes a cancellation clause that would require them to pay for work completed plus a reasonable margin if an order was canceled, revenue is recognized over time based on hours worked as a percent of total estimated hours to complete production. For the remaining wireless communication product line customers which do not provide a contractual right to bill for work completed on a canceled order, revenue is recognized upon shipment or delivery of the goods to the customer which is the same point in time that the customer is billed.

The Coatings segment revenues are derived by providing coating services to customers’ products, which include galvanizing, anodizing, and powder coating. Revenue is recognized once the coating service has been performed and the goods are ready to be picked up or delivered to the customer which is the same time that the customer is billed.

The Irrigation segment revenues are derived from the manufacture of agricultural irrigation equipment and related parts and services for the agricultural industry and tubular products for industrial customers. Revenue recognition for the irrigation segment is generally upon shipment of the goods to the customer which is the same point in time that the customer is billed. The remote monitoring subscription services are primarily billed annually and revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the subsequent twelve months.

Both steel and concrete utility customers are generally invoiced upon shipment or delivery of the goods to the customer's specified location with few customers that make up-front or progress payments. The offshore and complex steel structures business invoices customers a number of ways including advanced billings, progress billings, and billings upon shipment.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-14 (ASU 2019-12), Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which simplifies the accounting and disclosure requirements for income taxes by clarifying existing guidance to improve consistency in application of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 740. The Company adopted this standard on the first day of fiscal 2021 and it did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements (not yet adopted)

In March 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2020-04 (ASU 2020-04), Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP principles to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. . In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope, which clarified that certain optional expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 apply to derivative instruments that are affected by the discounting transition due to reference rate reform. The Company has not used any of the accommodations to date, but may use them up until December 31, 2022.