SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Carter's, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

FISCAL YEAR

The Company's fiscal year ends on the Saturday in December or January nearest the last day of December, resulting in an additional week of results every five or six fiscal years. Fiscal 2016, which ended on December 31, 2016, and fiscal 2015, which ended on January 2, 2016, both contained 52 weeks. Fiscal 2014, which ended on January 3, 2015, contained 53 weeks.

USE OF ESTIMATES IN THE PREPARATION OF THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The preparation of these consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures 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.

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION AND TRANSACTIONS

Translation adjustments

The functional currency of substantially all of the Company's foreign operations is the local currency. Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars using the current exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, while revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rates for the period. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

Transaction adjustments

The Company also recognizes gains and losses on transactions that are denominated in a currency other than the respective entity's functional currency. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses also include intercompany loans with foreign subsidiaries that are of a short-term investment nature. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are recognized in earnings, as a separate component of other expense, net, within the consolidated statements of operations.

Foreign Currency Contracts

As part of the Company's overall strategy to manage the level of exposure to the risk of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, primarily between the U.S. dollar and Canadian dollar, the Company may use foreign currency forward contracts to hedge purchases that are made in U.S. dollars, primarily for inventory purchases in its Canadian operations. As part of this hedging strategy, the Company may use foreign currency forward exchange contracts with maturities of less than 12 months to provide continuing coverage throughout the hedging period. Historically, these contracts were not designated for hedge accounting treatment, and therefore changes in the fair value of these contracts were recorded in other expense (income), net in the Company's consolidated statement of operations. Such foreign currency gains and losses typically include the mark-to-market fair value adjustments at the end of each reporting period related to open contracts, as well as any realized gains and losses on contracts settled during the reporting period. The fair values of any unsettled currency contracts are included in other current assets or other current liabilities on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. On the consolidated statement of cash flows, the Company includes all activity, including cash settlement of any contracts, as a component of cash flows from operations. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had no unsettled foreign currency exchange contracts.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

The Company considers all highly liquid investments that have original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of deposit accounts and cash management funds invested in U.S. government instruments. These investments are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. Cash equivalents also include amounts due from third-party financial institutions for credit and debit card transactions; these amounts typically settle in less than five days.

Concentration of cash deposits risk

As of December 31, 2016, the Company had approximately $299.4 million of cash and cash equivalents in major financial institutions, including approximately $58.5 million in financial institutions located outside of the U.S. The Company maintains cash deposits with major financial institutions that exceed the insurance coverage limits provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in the U.S. and by similar insurers for deposits located outside the U.S. To mitigate this risk, the Company utilizes a policy of allocating cash deposits among major financial institutions that have been evaluated by the Company and third-party rating agencies.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

The components of accounts receivable, net, as of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016 were as follows:



(dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2016			January 2, 2016
Trade receivables from wholesale customers, net	$	182,194		$	185,046
Royalties receivable	9,218			11,164
Tenant allowances and other receivables	19,810			20,303
Total gross receivables	$	211,222		$	216,513
Less:
Wholesale accounts receivable reserves	(8,751		)	(8,543		)
Wholesale sales returns reserve	—			(400		)
Total reserves	(8,751		)	(8,943		)
Accounts receivable, net	$	202,471		$	207,570

Concentration of credit risk

In each of fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014, no one customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company's consolidated net sales.

At December 31, 2016, two wholesale customers each had individual receivable balances in excess of 10% of gross accounts receivable, and the total receivable balances due from these two wholesale customers in the aggregate equaled approximately 30% of total gross accounts receivable outstanding. At January 2, 2016, five wholesale customers each had individual receivable balances in excess of 10% of gross accounts receivable, and the total receivable balances due from these five wholesale customers in the aggregate equaled approximately 60% of total gross accounts receivable outstanding.

VALUATION ACCOUNTS FOR WHOLESALE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Accounts receivable reserves

The Company's accounts receivable reserves for wholesale customers include an allowance for doubtful accounts and an allowance for chargebacks. The allowance for doubtful accounts includes estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make payments. If the financial condition of a customer were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of its ability to make payments, an additional allowance could be required. Past due balances over 90 days are reviewed individually for collectibility. The Company's credit and collections department reviews all other balances regularly. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when it is probable that the receivable will not be recovered. Provisions for the allowance for doubtful accounts are reflected in Selling, general and administrative expenses on the consolidated statement of operations and provisions for chargebacks are reflected as a reduction in Net sales on the consolidated statement of operations.

Sales returns reserves

Except in very limited instances, the Company does not allow its wholesale customers to return goods to the Company.

INVENTORIES

Inventories, which consist primarily of finished goods, are stated at the approximate lower of cost (first-in, first-out basis for wholesale inventory and average cost for retail inventories) or market. Obsolete, damaged, and excess inventory is carried at net realizable value by establishing reserves after assessing historical recovery rates, current market conditions, and future marketing and sales plans. Rebates, discounts and other cash consideration received from a vendor related to inventory purchases are reflected as reductions in the cost of the related inventory item, and are therefore reflected in cost of sales when the related inventory item is sold.

PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. When fixed assets are sold or otherwise disposed of, the accounts are relieved of the original cost of the assets and the related accumulated depreciation or amortization and any resulting profit or loss is credited or charged to income. For financial reporting purposes, depreciation and amortization are computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows: buildings and improvements from 15 to 26 years, retail store fixtures, equipment, and computers from 3 to 10 years. Leasehold improvements and fixed assets purchased under capital lease are amortized over the lesser of the asset life or related lease term. The Company capitalizes the cost of its fixtures designed and purchased for use at major wholesale accounts. The cost of these fixtures is amortized over 3 years.

INTERNAL-USE SOFTWARE

The Company purchases software from external vendors and also develops software internally using Company employees and consultants. Software costs, including certain costs to internally develop software, that meet the applicable criteria are capitalized while all other costs are expensed as incurred. Capitalized software is depreciated or amortized on the straight-line method over its estimated useful lives, from 3 to 10 years.

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The Company's goodwill balances are comprised of amounts related to the acquisition of Carter's, Inc. by a predecessor entity and the acquisition of Bonnie Togs. The goodwill balances have indefinite useful lives and are not deductible for income tax purposes. The Company's other intangible assets are comprised of tradenames. The tradenames include Carter's, OshKosh, Carter's Watch the Wear, H.W. Carter & Sons, and the Carter's tradename in the country of Chile. The Carter's and OshKosh tradenames have indefinite useful lives and are not being amortized. The Carter's tradename in Chile is being amortized over an estimated life of 20 years. The Carter's Watch the Wear and H.W. Carter & Sons tradenames were amortized on an accelerated basis over three years and have been fully amortized as of December 31, 2016.

Annual impairment reviews

The carrying values of the goodwill and indefinite-lived tradename assets are subject to annual impairment reviews which are performed as of the last day of each fiscal year. Additionally, a review for potential impairment is performed whenever significant events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. Significant assumptions in the impairment models include estimates of future cash flows, discount rates, and, in the case of tradenames, royalty rates. Based upon the Company's most recent assessment, performed as of December 31, 2016, there were no impairments in the values of goodwill or indefinite-lived tradename assets and no reporting units were at risk of an impairment.

Goodwill

The Company performs impairment tests of its goodwill at the reporting unit level. Qualitative and quantitative methods are used to assess for impairment, including the use of discounted cash flows ("income approach") and relevant data from guideline public companies ("market approach").

Under a qualitative assessment, the Company determines if it is "more likely than not" that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value. Qualitative factors may include, but are not limited to: macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors that may have a negative effect on earnings, overall financial performance, and other relevant entity-specific events. If the Company determines that it is "more likely than not" that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, then the Company performs the two-step goodwill impairment test as required. If it is determined that it is "not likely" that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, then no further testing is required and the Company documents the relevant qualitative factors that support the strength in the fair value.

The first step of a quantitative assessment is to compare the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. The Company uses a discounted cash flow model to determine the fair value, using assumptions consistent with those of hypothetical marketplace participants. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the second step of the impairment test must be performed. The second step compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill with the carrying value of that goodwill, in order to determine the amount of the impairment loss and charge to the consolidated statement of operations.

Indefinite-lived tradenames

For indefinite-lived tradenames, the Company may utilize a qualitative assessment, as described above, to determine whether the fair value of an indefinite-lived asset is less than its carrying value. If a quantitative assessment is necessary, the Company determines fair value using a discounted cash flow model that uses the relief-from-royalty method. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the tradename, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount of the excess.

IMPAIRMENT OF OTHER LONG-LIVED ASSETS

The Company reviews other long-lived assets, including property, plant, and equipment, and licensing agreements, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such an asset may not be recoverable. Management will determine whether there has been a permanent impairment on such assets held for use in the business by comparing anticipated undiscounted future cash flows from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or asset group to the carrying value of the asset. The amount of any resulting impairment will be calculated by comparing the carrying value to fair value, which may be estimated using the present value of the same cash flows. Long-lived assets that meet the definition of held for sale will be valued at the lower of carrying amount or fair value, less costs to sell.

DEFERRED DEBT ISSUANCE COSTS

Debt issuance costs associated with the Company's secured revolving credit facility and senior tern notes are deferred and amortized to interest expense over the term of the related debt using the effective interest method. Debt issuance costs associated with Company's senior notes are presented on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as a direct reduction in the carrying value of the associated debt liability. Fees paid to lenders by the Company to obtain its secured revolving credit facility are included within Other assets on the Company's consolidated balance sheet and classified as either current or non-current based on the expiration date of the credit facility. See the subsequent section under "Recent Accounting Pronouncements" in this Note 2 for information on the retrospective adoption of new accounting guidance related to the presentation of debt costs.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The fair value framework requires the Company to categorize certain assets and liabilities into three levels, based upon the assumptions used to price those assets or liabilities. The three levels are defined as follows:



Level 1:	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2:	Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable.
Level 3:	Unobservable inputs reflecting management's own assumptions about the inputs used in pricing the asset or liability.

The Company measures its pension assets, deferred compensation plan investment assets, unsettled foreign currency forward contracts, and contingent consideration liability for acquisitions at fair value. The Company's cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable are short-term in nature. As such, their carrying value approximates fair value.

The carrying values of the Company’s outstanding borrowings are not required to be remeasured and adjusted to the then-current fair values at the end of each reporting period. Instead, the fair values of the Company's outstanding borrowings are disclosed at the end of each reporting period in Note 7, Long-Term Debt, to the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Had the Company been required to remeasure and adjust the carrying values of its outstanding borrowings to fair value at the end of each reporting period, such fair value measurements would have been disclosed as a Level 2 liability in the fair value hierarchy.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

Revenues consist of sales to customers, net of returns, discounts, chargebacks, and cooperative advertising. The Company considers revenue realized or realizable and earned when the product has been shipped, when title passes, when all risks and rewards of ownership have transferred, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collectibility is reasonably assured. In certain cases, in which the Company retains the risk of loss during shipment, revenue recognition does not occur until the goods have reached the specified customer.

The Company records its cooperative advertising arrangements with certain of its major wholesale customers at fair value. Fair value is determined based upon, among other factors, comparable market analysis for similar advertisements. The Company has included the fair value of these arrangements of approximately $3.7 million for fiscal 2016, and $3.9 million for both of the fiscal years 2015 and 2014 as a component of selling, general, and administrative expenses on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, rather than as a reduction of net sales. Amounts determined to be in excess of the fair value of these arrangements are recorded as a reduction of net sales.

Retail store revenues are recognized at the point of sale. Retail sales through the Company's on-line channels are recognized at time of delivery to the customer. The Company recognizes retail sales returns at the time of transaction by recording adjustments to both revenue and cost of goods sold. Additionally, the Company maintains a liability for retail sales returns in Other current liabilities on its consolidated balance sheet for estimated future returns. There are no accounts receivable associated with the Company's retail customers.

COSTS OF GOODS SOLD

Cost of goods sold (CoGS) consists mainly of the cost of merchandise, inventory provisions, and certain costs associated with our sourcing and distribution centers operations.

ACCOUNTING FOR SHIPPING AND HANDLING FEES AND COSTS

Shipping costs consisting of payments to third-party shippers and handling costs consisting of labor costs, shipping supplies, and certain distribution overhead. Such costs for our domestic and international wholesale businesses totaled $66.4 million, $67.2 million, and $72.1 million for fiscal years 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. Such costs for our domestic and international retail businesses totaled $87.3 million, $75.4 million, $74.3 million. The Company recognizes shipping and handling costs in the "Selling, general, and administrative expenses" line on its consolidated statements of operations.

INCOME FROM ROYALTIES AND LICENSE FEES

The Company licenses the Carter's, Just One You, Precious Firsts, Child of Mine, OshKosh B'gosh, OshKosh, and Genuine Kids from OshKosh trademarks to other companies for use on baby and young children's products, including bedding, outerwear, sleepwear, shoes, underwear, socks, room décor, toys, stationery, hair accessories, furniture, and related products. These royalties are recorded as earned, based upon the sales of licensed products by licensees and reported as royalty income in the statements of operations.

ADVERTISING EXPENSES

Costs associated with the production of advertising, such as writing, copy, printing, and other costs, are expensed as incurred. Costs associated with communicating advertising that has been produced, such as magazine costs and website banners, are expensed when the advertising event takes place.

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS

The Company recognizes the cost resulting from all stock-based payment transactions in the financial statements at grant date fair value. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized over the requisite service period, net of estimated forfeitures.

Stock Options

The Company determines the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which requires the use of the following subjective assumptions:

Volatility - This is a measure of the amount by which a stock price has fluctuated or is expected to fluctuate. The Company uses actual monthly historical changes in the market value of its stock covering the expected life of options being valued. An increase in the expected volatility will increase the fair value of the stock option and related compensation expense.

Risk-free interest rate - This is the U.S. Treasury rate as of the grant date having a term equal to the expected term of the stock option. An increase in the risk-free interest rate will increase the fair value of the stock option and related compensation expense.

Expected term - This is the period of time over which the stock options granted are expected to remain outstanding and is based on historical experience and estimated future exercise behavior. Separate groups of employees that have similar historical exercise behavior are considered separately for valuation purposes. An increase in the expected term will increase the fair value of the stock option and the related compensation expense.

Dividend yield - The Company estimates a dividend yield based on the current dividend amount as a percentage of the current stock price. An increase in the dividend yield will decrease the fair value of the stock option and the related compensation expenses.

Forfeitures - The Company estimates forfeitures of stock-based awards based on historical experience and expected future activity.

Changes in these subjective assumptions can materially affect the estimate of fair value of stock-based compensation expense and the related amount recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.

Time-Based Restricted Stock Awards

The fair value of time-based restricted stock awards is determined based on the quoted closing price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant and is recognized as compensation expense over the vesting term of the awards, net of estimated forfeitures.

Performance-Based Restricted Stock Awards

The Company accounts for its performance-based restricted stock awards based on the quoted closing price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant and records stock-based compensation expense over the vesting term of the awards based on the probability that the performance criteria will be achieved, net of estimated forfeitures. The Company reassesses the probability of vesting at each reporting period and prospectively adjusts stock-based compensation expense based on its probability assessment.

Stock Awards

The fair value of stock granted to non-management board members is determined based on the quoted closing price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. The Company records the stock-based compensation expense immediately as there are no vesting terms.

INCOME TAXES

The accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect current and deferred tax provisions. The deferred tax provision is determined under the liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities using presently enacted tax rates. Valuation allowances are established when it is "more likely than not" that a deferred tax asset will not be recovered. The provision for income taxes is the sum of the amount of income taxes paid or payable for the year as determined by applying the provisions of enacted tax laws to the taxable income for that year, the net change during the year in deferred tax assets and liabilities, and the net change during the year in any valuation allowances.

The Company assesses its income tax positions and records tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon management's evaluation of the facts, circumstances, and information available at the reporting dates. The Company determines whether it is "more likely than not" that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authorities before any part of the benefit can be recorded in the financial statements. For those tax positions where it is not "more likely than not" that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit is recognized. Where applicable, associated interest and penalties are also recorded. Interest is recorded as a component of interest expense and penalties, if any, are recorded within the provision for incomes taxes in the consolidated statements of operations and are classified on the consolidated balance sheets with the related liability for uncertain tax contingency liabilities.

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

Interest paid in cash approximated $25.4 million, $25.1 million, and $26.1 million for fiscal years 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. Income taxes paid in cash approximated $120.6 million, $108.4 million and $95.8 million for fiscal years 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

Additions to property, plant and equipment of approximately $2.6 million, $6.1 million, and $2.0 million were excluded from capital expenditures on the Company's consolidated statements of cash flows for fiscal years 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively, since these amounts were accrued and unpaid at the end of each respective fiscal year.

The Company's consolidated statement of cash flows shows the following sources and uses of financing cash flows related to the Company's revolving credit facility during fiscal 2015. In the first quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company replaced $20.0 million of outstanding borrowings under the then-existing amended revolving credit facility with CAD 25.5 million of borrowings, which approximated $20.3 million. Additionally, because of a change in the lead administrative agent and certain changes in commitment amounts among the lenders in the syndication, the third quarter amendment to the Company's secured revolving credit facility led to the repayment and simultaneous re-borrowing of the then-outstanding balance on the secured revolving credit agreement of approximately $185.2 million.

EARNINGS PER SHARE

The Company calculates basic and diluted net income per common share under the two-class method for unvested share-based payment awards that contain participating rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid).

Basic net income per share is calculated by dividing net income for the period by the weighted-average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income per share includes the effect of dilutive instruments and uses the average share price for the period in determining the number of shares that are to be added to the weighted-average number of shares outstanding.

OPEN MARKET REPURCHASES OF COMMON STOCK

Shares of the Company's common stock that are repurchased by the Company through open market transactions are retired. Through the end of fiscal 2016, all such open market repurchases have been at prices that exceeded the par value of the repurchased common stock, and the amounts of the purchase prices that exceeded par value were charged to additional paid-in capital or to retained earnings if the balance in additional paid-in capital was not sufficient.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The Company has several defined benefit plans. Various actuarial methods and assumptions are used in determining net pension and post-retirement costs and obligations. Key assumptions include the discount rate used to determine the present value of future benefits and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. The over-funded or under-funded status of the defined benefit plans is recorded as an asset or liability on the consolidated balance sheet. The gains or losses that arise during the period are recognized as a component of comprehensive income, net of tax. These costs are then subsequently recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost in the consolidated statements of operations. See "Recent Accounting Pronouncements" in this Note 2 for information on the adoption of new accounting guidance.

FACILITY CLOSURE AND OFFICE CONSOLIDATION

The Company records severance costs when the appropriate notifications have been made to affected employees or when the decision is made, if the benefits are contractual. When employees are required to work for a period before termination, the severance costs are recognized over the required service period. Relocation and recruitment costs are expensed as incurred. For operating leases, lease termination costs are recognized at fair value at the date the Company ceases to use the leased property, and adjusted for the effects of deferred items recognized under the lease and reduced by estimated sub-lease rental income. Useful lives assigned to fixed assets at the facility to be closed are revised based on the specifics of the exit plan, resulting in accelerated depreciation expense.

LEASES AND DEFERRED RENT

The Company enters into a significant number of lease transactions related to properties for its retail stores in addition to leases for offices, distribution facilities, and other uses. The lease agreements may contain provisions related to allowances for property improvements, rent escalation, and free rent periods. Substantially all of these leases are classified as operating leases for accounting purposes.

For property improvement allowances, the Company records a deferred lease credit on the consolidated balance sheet and amortizes the deferred lease credit as a reduction of rent expense over the terms of the applicable lease. For scheduled rent escalation clauses during the lease term, the Company records rent expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. The difference between the rent expense and the amount payable under the lease is included within the Company's liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. The term of the lease over which the Company amortizes allowances and minimum rental expenses on a straight-line basis begins on the date of initial possession, which is generally when the Company enters the space and/or begins construction.

Where leases provide for contingent rents, which are generally determined as a percentage of gross sales, the Company records additional rent expense when management determines that achieving the specified level of revenue during the fiscal year is probable. Amounts accrued for contingent rent are included within the Company's liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.

SEASONALITY

The Company experiences seasonal fluctuations in its sales and profitability due to the timing of certain holidays and key retail shopping periods, typically resulting in lower sales and gross profit in the first half of its fiscal year. Accordingly, the Company's results of operations during the first half of the year may not be indicative of the results for the full year.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Adopted in Fiscal 2016

Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud-Computing Arrangement (ASU 2015-05)

The Company prospectively adopted the provisions of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2015-05, Customer's Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement, at the beginning of fiscal 2016 for fees paid in connection with cloud-based software arrangements. ASU 2015-05 provides clarification on whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a software license is included, the customer should account for the license consistent with its accounting for other software licenses. If a software license is not included, the arrangement should be accounted for as a service contract. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs for Term Debt (ASU 2015-03)

The Company retrospectively adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs ("ASU 2015-03"), at the beginning of fiscal 2016. This new guidance requires that debt issuance costs related to term debt be presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability, consistent with the presentation of a debt discount. Prior to the issuance of ASU 2015-03, all debt issuance costs were required to be presented as deferred charge assets, separate from the related debt liability. The guidance did not change the recognition and measurement requirements for debt issuance costs. The Company reclassified approximately $4.6 million and $5.5 million of unamortized issuance-related debt costs associated with the Company's senior notes from Other assets (non-current) to Long-term debt, net within its consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016, respectively. Other than this balance sheet reclassification, the adoption of ASU 2015-03 did not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Fees paid to lenders to secure revolving lines of credit continue to be presented as a deferred charge (asset) on the balance sheet.

Simplified Measurement Date for Defined Benefit Plan Assets and Obligations (ASU 2015-04)

The Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2015-04, Practical Expedient for the Measurement Date of an Employer's Defined Benefit Obligation and Plan Assets ("ASU 2015-04"), at the beginning of fiscal 2016. ASU 2015-04 allows employers with fiscal year ends that do not coincide with a calendar month end to make an accounting policy election to measure defined benefit plan assets and obligations as of the end of the month closest to their fiscal year end (i.e., on an alternative measurement date). An employer that makes this election must consistently apply the alternative measurement date from year to year and to all of its defined benefit plans. Upon adoption of ASU 2015-04, the Company elected an accounting policy to use December 31 as the alternative measurement date for all of its defined benefit plan assets and obligations for fiscal 2016 and subsequent years. Since the Company's fiscal 2016 ended on December 31, 2016, it was not be necessary for the Company to utilize an alternative measurement date for fiscal 2016, and thus the initial adoption of ASU 2015-04 for fiscal 2016 did not have an impact on the Company's results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.

Required Assessment of Going Concern (ASU 2014-15)

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern ("ASU 2014-15"). Regardless of financial condition, ASU 2014-15 requires every entity to assess its ability to continue operating as a going concern for the period of time that extends one year from the issuance of interim or annual financial statements. If a quarterly or annual assessment indicates the presence of one or more conditions that raise substantial doubt, as defined in ASU 2014-15, about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern for the upcoming one-year period, the ASU requires disclosures in the footnotes that accompany the financial statements. Otherwise, no disclosure is required about the assessment results. The Company's adoption of ASU 2014-15 had no impact on its consolidated financial statements or related disclosures.

To Be Adopted After Fiscal 2016

Accounting for Share-Based Payments to Employees (ASU 2016-09)

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting ("ASU 2016-09"), which amends ASC Topic 718, Stock Compensation.

ASU 2019-09 requires that all tax benefits and deficiencies related to share-based payments be recognized and recorded through the statement of operations for all awards settled or expiring after the adoption of ASU 2016-09. Under prior guidance, tax benefits in excess of compensation costs ("windfalls") were recorded in equity, and any tax deficiencies ("shortfalls") were recorded in equity to the extent of previous windfalls and then to the statement of operations. ASU 2016-09 also requires, either prospectively or retrospectively, that all tax-related cash flows resulting from share-based payments be reported as operating activities on the statement of cash flows, a change from prior guidance that required windfall tax benefits to be presented as an inflow from financing activities and an outflow from operating activities on the statement of cash flows.

Additionally, ASU 2016-09 allows entities to make an accounting policy election for the impact of most types of forfeitures on the recognition of expense for share-based payment awards by allowing the forfeitures to be either estimated, as was required under prior guidance, or recognized when they actually occur.

Under ASU 2016-09, it is possible for equity awards to have a more dilutive effect on earnings per share (EPS). Under prior guidance, anticipated income tax windfalls and shortfalls were included in the calculation of assumed proceeds when applying the treasury stock method for computing the dilutive effect of share-based awards in the calculation of diluted EPS. Because there is no longer any excess tax benefits recognized in additional paid capital under ASU 2016-09, when applying the treasury stock method for computing diluted EPS, the assumed proceeds do not include any windfall tax benefits. As a result, fewer hypothetical shares can be repurchased under the treasury stock method, resulting in an assumption of more incremental shares being issued upon the exercise of shared-based awards. Therefore, equity awards have a more dilutive effect on EPS for any period where the average market price of an entity's underlying stock exceeds the average fair value of outstanding dilutive equity awards for the period.

The provisions of ASU 2016-09 are effective for the Company at the beginning of fiscal 2017. The impact of ASU 2016-09 on the Company's income tax expense or benefit and related cash flows during and after the period of adoption are dependent in part upon future grants and vesting of stock-based compensation awards and other factors that are not fully controllable or predicable by the Company such as the future market price of the Company's common stock, the timing of employee exercises of vested stock options, and the future achievement of performance criteria that affect performance-based awards. Under ASU 2016-09, the Company will continue estimating expected forfeitures.

Simplified Subsequent Measurement of Inventory (ASU 2015-11)

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory ("ASU 2015-11"). Upon adoption, ASU 2015-11 simplifies subsequent measurements of inventory by replacing the lower of cost or market test, required under prior guidance, with a lower of cost and net realizable value test. ASU 2015-11 applies only to inventories for which cost is determined by methods other than last-in-first-out (LIFO) and the retail inventory method. For inventory within the scope of ASU 2015-11, entities are required to compare the cost of inventory to only one measure, its net realizable value, and not the three measures required by prior guidance ("market," "subject to a floor," and a "ceiling"). When evidence exists that the net realizable value of inventory is less than its cost (due to damage, physical deterioration, obsolescence, changes in price levels or other causes), entities recognize the difference as a loss in earnings in the period in which it occurs. The provisions of ASU 2015-11 are effective for the Company at the beginning of fiscal 2017. The adoption of ASU 2015-11 is not material to the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (ASU 2015-17)

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes ("ASU 2015-17"). Prior GAAP required the deferred taxes for each tax jurisdiction (or tax-paying component of a jurisdiction) to be presented as a net current asset or liability and net non-current asset or liability. ASU 2015-17 requires a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction analysis based on the classification of the assets and liabilities to which the underlying temporary differences relate based on the period in which the attribute is expected to be realized. Under the provisions of ASU 2015-17, all deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified as non-current on an entity's balance sheet. As a result, each jurisdiction has only one net non-current deferred tax asset or liability. ASU 2015-17 does not change the existing guidance that prohibits the offsetting of deferred tax liabilities of one jurisdiction against the deferred tax assets of another jurisdiction. The provisions of ASU 2015-17 are effective for the Company at the beginning of fiscal 2017. The adoption of ASU 2015-17 only involves reclassification of certain deferred tax assets and liabilities on the Company's consolidated balance sheet and therefore does not impact the Company's results of operations or cash flows.

Revenue Recognition (ASC 606)

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which since has been codified in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC 606"). This guidance clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue and will be applicable to all contracts with customers regardless of industry-specific or transaction-specific fact patterns. Further, the guidance will require improved disclosures as well as additional disclosures to help users of financial statements better understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. Since its original issuance, the FASB has issued several amendments and updates to this guidance, and additional amendments and updates are possible. The standard will be effective for the Company at the beginning of fiscal 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. Upon adoption, the Company will apply the provisions of ASC 606 either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial application. Based on an assessment of the Company's significant sources of revenue, at this time the Company does not believe that the adoption of ASC 606, including any of the policy elections required or permitted by ASC 606, will have a material impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Based on this assessment, at this time the Company does not believe the adoption of ASC 606 will have a significant impact on processes, systems, or controls.

Leases (ASU 2016-02)

In February 2016, the FASB issued new lease accounting guidance in ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. Under this new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases): 1) a lease liability equal to the lessee's obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis and 2) a right-of-use asset which will represent the lessee's right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. ASU 2016-02 will have little or no impact on an entity's results of operations or cash flows. The new standard will be effective for the Company at the beginning of fiscal 2019, including interim periods within the year of adoption. The new standard requires a modified retrospective basis, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is still evaluating the potential impacts of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated balance sheet. However, the Company expects that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will require the Company to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities that will be material to the Company's consolidated balance sheet.