Harley Davidson 2015 Annual Report Download - page 61

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effectiveness. Derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting are recorded at fair value and any changes in fair
value are recorded in current period earnings. Refer to Note 9 for a detailed description of the Company’s derivative
instruments.
Motorcycles and Related Products Revenue Recognition – Sales are recorded when title and ownership is transferred,
which is generally when products are shipped to wholesale customers (independent dealers). The Company may offer sales
incentive programs to both wholesale and retail customers designed to promote the sale of motorcycles and related products.
The total costs of these programs are generally recognized as revenue reductions and are accrued at the later of the date the
related sales are recorded or the date the incentive program is both approved and communicated.
Financial Services Revenue Recognition – Interest income on finance receivables is recorded as earned and is based on
the average outstanding daily balance for wholesale and retail receivables. Accrued and uncollected interest is classified with
finance receivables. Certain loan origination costs related to finance receivables, including payments made to dealers for
certain retail loans, are deferred and recorded within finance receivables, and amortized over the estimated life of the contract.
Retail finance receivables are contractually delinquent if the minimum payment is not received by the specified due date.
Retail finance receivables are generally charged-off when the receivable is 120 days or more delinquent, the related asset is
repossessed or the receivable is otherwise deemed uncollectible. All retail finance receivables accrue interest until either
collected or charged-off. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, all retail finance receivables are accounted for as
interest-earning receivables.
Wholesale finance receivables are delinquent if the minimum payment is not received by the contractual due date.
Wholesale finance receivables are written down once management determines that the specific borrower does not have the
ability to repay the loan in full. Interest continues to accrue on past due finance receivables until the date the finance receivable
becomes uncollectible and the finance receivable is placed on non-accrual status. The Company will resume accruing interest
on these accounts when payments are current according to the terms of the loans and future payments are reasonably assured.
While on non-accrual status, all cash received is applied to principal or interest as appropriate.
Insurance and protection product commissions as well as commissions on the sale of extended service contracts are
recognized when contractually earned. Deferred revenue related to extended service contracts was $4.6 million and $5.7
million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Research and Development Expenses – Expenditures for research activities relating to product development and
improvement are charged against income as incurred and included within selling, administrative and engineering expenses in
the consolidated statement of income. Research and development expenses were $161.2 million, $138.3 million and $152.2
million for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Advertising Costs – The Company expenses the production cost of advertising the first time the advertising takes place.
Advertising costs relate to the Company’s efforts to promote its products and brands through the use of media. During 2015,
2014 and 2013, the Company incurred $119.8 million, $107.4 million and $90.7 million in advertising costs, respectively.
Shipping and Handling Costs – The Company classifies shipping and handling costs as a component of cost of goods
sold.
Share-Based Award Compensation Costs – The Company recognizes the cost of its share-based awards in its statement of
income. The total cost of the Company’s equity awards is equal to their grant date fair value and is recognized as expense on a
straight-line basis over the service periods of the awards. The total cost of the Company’s liability for cash-settled awards is
equal to their settlement date fair value. The liability for cash-settled awards is revalued each period based on a recalculated fair
value adjusted for vested awards. Total share-based award compensation expense recognized by the Company during 2015,
2014 and 2013 was $29.4 million, $37.9 million and $41.2 million, respectively, or $18.5 million, $23.9 million and $26.0
million net of taxes, respectively.
Income Tax Expense – The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the
provision for income taxes.
New Accounting Standards
Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU)
No. 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU No. 2014-09). ASU No. 2014-09 is a comprehensive new revenue
recognition model that requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an