significant accounting policies

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of National Beverage Corp. and all subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. Our fiscal year ends the Saturday closest to April 30 and, as a result, an additional week is added every five or six years. Fiscal 2016 and Fiscal 2015 consisted of 52 weeks while Fiscal 2014 consisted of 53 weeks.

Cash and Equivalents

Cash and equivalents are comprised of cash and highly liquid securities (consisting primarily of short-term money-market investments) with an original maturity of three months or less.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We use derivative financial instruments to partially mitigate our exposure to changes in raw material costs. All derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We do not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Credit risk related to derivative financial instruments is managed by requiring high credit standards for counterparties and frequent cash settlements. See Note 6.

Earnings

Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing earnings available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated in a similar manner, but includes the dilutive effect of stock options amounting to 219,000 shares in Fiscal 2016, 206,000 shares in Fiscal 2015 and 188,000 shares in Fiscal 2014.

Fair Value

The fair value of long-term debt approximates its carrying value due to its variable interest rate and lack of prepayment penalty. The estimated fair values of derivative financial instruments are calculated based on market rates to settle the instruments. These values represent the estimated amounts we would receive upon sale, taking into consideration current market prices and credit worthiness. See Note 6.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

All long-lived assets, excluding goodwill and intangible assets not subject to amortization, are evaluated for impairment on the basis of undiscounted cash flows whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. An impaired asset is written down to its estimated fair market value based on the best information available. Estimated fair value is generally measured by discounting future cash flows. Goodwill and intangible assets not subject to amortization are evaluated for impairment annually or sooner if we believe such assets may be impaired. An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount or, for goodwill, the carrying amount of its reporting unit, is greater than its fair value.

Income Taxes

Our effective income tax rate is based on estimates of taxes which will ultimately be payable. Deferred taxes are recorded to give recognition to temporary differences between the tax bases of assets or liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. Valuation allowances are established to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets when it is deemed, more likely than not, that the benefit of deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Insurance Programs

We maintain self-insured and deductible programs for certain liability, medical and workers’ compensation exposures. Accordingly, we accrue for known claims and estimated incurred but not reported claims not otherwise covered by insurance based on actuarial assumptions and historical claims experience. At April 30, 2016 and May 2, 2015, other liabilities included accruals of $5.8 million and $5.9 million, respectively, for estimated non-current risk retention exposures, of which $4.8 million and $4.7 million were covered by insurance.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets as of April 30, 2016 and May 2, 2015 consisted of non-amortizable trademarks.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of first-in, first-out cost or market. Inventories at April 30, 2016 were comprised of finished goods of $29.1 million and raw materials of $18.8 million. Inventories at May 2, 2015 were comprised of finished goods of $24.9 million and raw materials of $18.0 million.

Marketing Costs

We are involved in a variety of marketing programs, including cooperative advertising programs with customers, to advertise and promote our products to consumers. Marketing costs are expensed when incurred, except for prepaid advertising and production costs which are expensed when the advertising takes place. Marketing costs, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, totaled $38.8 million in Fiscal 2016, $42.4 million in Fiscal 2015 and $50.2 million in Fiscal 2014.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)

issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, “Compensation-Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (“ASU 2016-9”). This amendment addresses several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for our fiscal year beginning April 30, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, “Leases” (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 requires the lease rights and obligations arising from lease contracts, including existing and new arrangements, to be recognized as assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 is effective for our fiscal year beginning April 28, 2019.

We are currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes” (“ASU 2015-17”). ASU 2015-17 requires companies to classify all deferred tax liabilities and assets as noncurrent on the balance sheet. ASU 2015-17 is effective for our fiscal year beginning April 30, 2017.

We are currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 requires an entity to recognize revenue in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for goods or services. On August 12, 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year and is effective for our fiscal year beginning April 29, 2018. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Additions, replacements and betterments are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs that do not extend the useful life of an asset are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of 7 to 30 years for buildings and improvements and 3 to 15 years for machinery and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the remaining lease term or the estimated useful life of the improvement. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts and any related gain or loss is recognized.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from product sales is recognized when title and risk of loss pass to the customer, which generally occurs upon delivery. Our policy is not to allow the return of products once they have been accepted by the customer. However, on occasion, we have accepted returns or issued credit to customers, primarily for damaged goods. The amounts have been immaterial and, accordingly, we do not provide a specific valuation allowance for sales returns.

Sales Incentives

We offer various sales incentive arrangements to our customers that require customer performance or achievement of certain sales volume targets. When the incentive is paid in advance, we amortize the amount paid over the period of benefit or contractual sales volume; otherwise, we accrue the expected amount to be paid over the period of benefit or expected sales volume. The recognition of these incentives involves the use of judgment related to performance and sales volume estimates that are made based on historical experience and other factors. Sales incentives are accounted for as a reduction of sales and actual amounts ultimately realized may vary from accrued amounts.

Segment Reporting

We operate as a single operating segment for purposes of presenting financial information and evaluating performance. As such, the accompanying consolidated financial statements present financial information in a format that is consistent with the internal financial information used by management. We do not accumulate revenues by product classification and, therefore, it is impractical to present such information.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs are reported in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Such costs aggregated $44.6 million in Fiscal 2016 and $44.4 million in Fiscal 2015 and Fiscal 2014. Although our classification is consistent with many beverage companies, our gross margin may not be comparable to companies that include shipping and handling costs in cost of sales.

Stock-Based Compensation

Compensation expense for stock-based compensation awards is recognized over the vesting period based on the grant-date fair value estimated using the Black-Scholes model. See Note 8.

Trade Receivables

We record trade receivables at net realizable value, which includes an appropriate allowance for doubtful accounts. We extend credit based on an evaluation of each customer’s financial condition, generally without requiring collateral. Exposure to credit losses varies by customer principally due to the financial condition of each customer. We monitor our exposure to credit losses and maintain allowances for anticipated losses based on specific customer circumstances, credit conditions and historical write-offs. Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts was as follows:

	(In thousands)
	Fiscal 2016			Fiscal 2015			Fiscal 2014
Balance at beginning of year	$	330		$	399		$	454
Net charge to expense		232			117			95
Net charge-off		(78	)		(186	)		(150	)
Balance at end of year	$	484		$	330		$	399

As of April 30, 2016 and May 2, 2015, we did not have any customer that comprised more than 10% of trade receivables. No one customer accounted for more than 10% of net sales during any of the last three fiscal years.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Although these estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current events and anticipated future actions, actual results may vary from reported amounts.