Note 1 — Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations

Escalade, Incorporated and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (Escalade, the Company, we, us or our) are engaged in the manufacture and sale of sporting goods products. The Company is headquartered in Evansville, Indiana and has manufacturing facilities in the United States of America and Mexico. The Company sells products to customers primarily in North America with minimal sales throughout the remainder of the world.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Escalade, Incorporated and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All material inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The books and records of subsidiaries located in foreign countries are maintained according to generally accepted accounting principles in those countries. Upon consolidation, the Company evaluates the differences in accounting principles and determines whether adjustments are necessary to convert the foreign financial statements to the accounting principles upon which the consolidated financial statements are based. As a result of this evaluation no material adjustments were identified.

Fiscal Year End

The Company’s fiscal year is a 52 or 53 week period ending on the last Saturday in December. Fiscal year 2019 was 52 weeks long, ending December 28, 2019. Fiscal year 2018 was 52 weeks long, ending December 29, 2018. Fiscal year 2017 was 52 weeks long, ending on December 30, 2017.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Highly liquid financial instruments with insignificant interest rate risk and with original maturities of three months or less are classified as cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalent balances may at times be in excess of federally insured limits. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalent balances at high-credit quality financial institutions.

Accounts Receivable

Revenue from the sale of the Company’s products is recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract with our customer are satisfied; generally this occurs with the transfer of control of our goods at a point in time based on shipping terms and transfer of title. Accounts receivable are stated at the amount billed to customers. Interest and late charges billed to customers are not material and, because collection is uncertain, are not recognized until collected and are therefore not included in accounts receivable. The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts which is described in Note 2 – Certain Significant Estimates.

Inventories

Inventory cost is computed on a currently adjusted standard cost basis (which approximates actual cost on a current average or first-in, first-out basis). Work in process and finished goods inventory are determined to be saleable based on a demand forecast within a specific time horizon, generally one year or less. Inventory in excess of saleable amounts is reserved, and the remaining inventory is valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. This inventory valuation reserve totaled $786 thousand and $456 thousand at fiscal year-end 2019 and 2018, respectively. Inventories, net of the valuation reserve, at fiscal year-ends were as follows:


In Thousands	2019		2018

Raw materials	$	3,186	$	3,622
Work in process		2,177		2,892
Finished goods		36,906		32,608
	$	42,269	$	39,122

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation and amortization are computed for financial reporting purposes principally using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives: buildings, 20‑30 years; leasehold improvements, term of the lease; machinery and equipment, 5‑15 years; and tooling, dies and molds, 2‑5 years. Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:


In Thousands	2019			2018

Land	$	1,943	$	1,943
Buildings and leasehold improvements		16,831		16,768
Machinery and equipment		24,721		27,458
Total cost		43,495		46,169
Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(28,384)		(30,671)
	$	15,111	$	15,498

The Company evaluates the recoverability of certain long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Estimates of future cash flows used to test recoverability of long-lived assets include separately identifiable undiscounted cash flows expected to arise from the use and eventual disposition of the assets. Where estimated future cash flows are less than the carrying value of the assets, impairment losses are recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the assets. No asset impairment was recognized during the years ended 2019, 2018, or 2017.

Investments

Non-Marketable Equity Investment: The Company had an equity position in a company that strategically related to the Company’s business, but the Company did not have control over that entity. The accounting method employed was dependent on the level of ownership and degree of influence the Company could exert on operations. Where the equity interest was less than 20% and the degree of influence was not significant, the cost method of accounting was employed. Where the equity interest was greater than 20% but not more than 50%, the equity method of accounting was utilized. Under the equity method, the Company’s proportionate share of net income was recorded in equity in earnings of affiliates on the consolidated statement of operations. The proportionate share of net income was $0.1 million and $1.6 million in 2018 and 2017, respectively. Total cash dividends received from this equity investment amounted to $2,323 thousand and $2,168 thousand in 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Company considered whether the fair value of its equity investment declined below its carrying value whenever adverse events or changes in circumstances indicated that recorded values may not be recoverable. If the Company considered any such decline to be other than temporary (based on various factors, including historical financial results, product development activities and overall health of the investments’ industry), a write-down was recorded to estimated fair value.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of acquired businesses. Intangible assets consist of patents, consulting agreements, non-compete agreements, customer lists, developed technology, license agreements, and trademarks. Goodwill is deemed to have an indefinite life and is not amortized, but is subject to impairment testing annually in accordance with guidance included in FASB ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. Other intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the following lives: license agreements, 17 years; developed technology, 5 years; trademarks, 20 years to indefinite life; consulting agreements, the life of the agreement; customer lists, 3 to 14 years; non-compete agreements, the lesser of the term or 5 years; and patents, the lesser of the remaining life or 5 to 15 years.

The Company reviews goodwill for impairment annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of goodwill may not be recoverable, in accordance with guidance in FASB ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. A qualitative assessment is first performed to determine if the fair value of the reporting unit is "more likely than not" less than the carrying value. If so, we proceed to step one of the two-step goodwill impairment test, in which the fair value of the reporting unit is compared to its carrying value. If not, then performance of the second step of the goodwill impairment test is not necessary. If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds the implied estimated fair value calculated in the second step, an impairment charge to current operations is recorded to reduce the carrying value to the implied estimated fair value.

Employee Incentive Plan

During 2017, the Company approved an incentive plan explained in Note 10. The Company accounts for this plan under the recognition and measurement principles of FASB ASC 718, Equity Based Payments.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency for the foreign operations of Escalade is the U.S. dollar. Gains or losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in selling, general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and were insignificant in fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017.

Cost of Products Sold

Cost of products sold is comprised of those costs directly associated with or allocated to the products sold and include materials, labor and factory overhead.

Other Income (Loss)

The components of Other Income (Loss) are as follows:


In Thousands	2019		2018		2017

Other income (loss)	$	15	$	(89)	$	(169)
	$	15	$	(89)	$	(169)

Provision for Income Taxes

Income tax in the consolidated statement of operations includes deferred income tax provisions or benefits for all significant temporary differences in recognizing income and expenses for financial reporting and income tax purposes. A valuation allowance is established if it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

Research and Development

Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred. Research and development costs incurred during 2019, 2018 and 2017 were approximately $1.6 million, $1.5 million, and $1.6 million, respectively.

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles

Standards Adopted:

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU) 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes ASC 840, Leases. The amendments in this update will increase the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. Under ASU 2016‑02, a lessee will recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-to-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee have not significantly changed from current GAAP. ASU 2016‑02 retains a distinction between finance leases and operating leases. The classification criteria for distinguishing between finance leases and operating leases will be substantially similar to the classification criteria for distinguishing between capital leases and operating leases under prior GAAP. Under the standard, disclosures are required to meet the objective of enabling users of financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases.

The guidance permits a practical expedient with regards to initial adoption, allowing adopters the option to apply the new leases standard prospectively at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. Under this expedient, comparative periods presented in the financial statements in which the new lease standard is adopted, will continue to be presented in accordance with prior GAAP.

The Company adopted this standard on December 30, 2018 using the prospective application method practical expedient. The adoption of this standard had an immaterial impact on our consolidated balance sheet, recognizing a ROU asset and lease liability of $985 thousand. Refer to Note 4 for disclosure requirements related to this standard.

New Accounting Standards to be Adopted

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This amendment requires the measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held at amortized cost. ASU 2016-13 replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model with an expected loss model which requires the use of forward-looking information to calculate credit loss estimates. It also eliminates the concept of other-than-temporary impairment and requires credit losses related to available-for-sale debt securities to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than as a reduction in the amortized cost basis of the securities. These changes will result in earlier recognition of credit losses. The amendments are effective in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We do not expect the standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates. This amendment delays the effective dates of specific ASUs, including ASU 2016-13 by one year.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017‑04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. These amendments eliminate Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. The amendments also eliminate the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment and, if it fails that qualitative test, to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. The amendments are effective for annual impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The provisions of the amendment should be adopted on a prospective basis. Adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which simplifies the accounting for income taxes. This guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.