Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Significant Accounting Policies

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Significant Accounting Policies
3 Months Ended
Apr. 01, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies
Significant Accounting Policies

Interim Financial Statements. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements of Brunswick Corporation (Brunswick or the Company) have been prepared pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules and regulations. Therefore, certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements and related notes prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted. Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation, including reclassifying prior periods' Deferred income tax liability to Other long-term liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

These financial statements should be read in conjunction with, and have been prepared in conformity with, the accounting principles reflected in the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Brunswick’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (the 2016 Form 10-K). These results include, in management's opinion, all normal and recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly Brunswick's financial position as of April 1, 2017, December 31, 2016 and April 2, 2016, the results of operations for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016, and the cash flows for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016. Due to the seasonality of Brunswick’s businesses, the interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the remainder of the year.

The Company maintains its financial records on the basis of a fiscal year ending on December 31, with the fiscal quarters spanning approximately thirteen weeks. The first quarter ends on the Saturday closest to the end of the first thirteen-week period. The second and third quarters are thirteen weeks in duration and the fourth quarter is the remainder of the year. The first quarter of fiscal year 2017 ended on April 1, 2017, and the first quarter of fiscal year 2016 ended on April 2, 2016.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements. The following are recent accounting pronouncements that have been adopted during 2017, or will be adopted in future periods.

Presentation of Benefit Costs: In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) amended the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) related to the income statement presentation of the components of net periodic benefit cost for an entity’s sponsored defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The amendments require entities to present the current-service-cost component with other current compensation costs in the income statement and present the other components outside of income from operations. The amendment is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASC amendment, but does not expect it will have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

Definition of a Business: In January 2017, the FASB amended the ASC to clarify the definition of a business and to provide a framework for making reasonable judgments about whether a transaction involves an asset or a business when determining accounting treatment of a transaction as an asset acquisition or a business combination. The amendment is to be applied prospectively and is effective for fiscal years, and the interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted.  The Company early adopted this amendment in 2017 and it did not have an impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

Restricted Cash: In November 2016, the FASB amended the ASC to address diversity in practice related to the cash flow classification of restricted cash. Under the amendment, an entity should include restricted cash within cash and cash equivalents on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and provide a reconciliation to cash and cash equivalents on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company early adopted this ASC on a retrospective basis, as required, during the first quarter of 2017 and it did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

Statement of Cash Flows Classifications: In August 2016, the FASB amended the ASC to add and/or clarify guidance on the classification of certain transactions in the statement of cash flows. The amendment is to be applied retrospectively and is effective for fiscal years, and the interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact it will have on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Share-Based Compensation: In March 2016, the FASB amended the ASC to simplify the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions. The Company adopted this amendment during the first quarter of 2017, and recognized $5.3 million of net excess tax benefits related to share-based payments in the income tax provision for the three months ended April 1, 2017. These net excess tax benefits were historically recorded in additional paid-in capital when recognized. Additionally, the Company adopted the amendment retrospectively for presentation of net excess tax benefits on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, resulting in an increase of $7.4 million in Net cash provided by operating activities and Net cash used for financing activities for the three months ended April 2, 2016. The Company elected to recognize forfeitures of share-based awards as they occur. The remaining amendments, including those related to statutory withholding requirements, did not have a material impact.

Recognition of Leases: In February 2016, the FASB amended the ASC to require lessees to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with terms greater than twelve months. Lessees will recognize expenses similar to current lease accounting. The amendment is to be applied using a modified retrospective method with certain practical expedients, and is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of the new standard will have on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

Measurement of Inventory: In July 2015, the FASB issued final guidance to simplify the subsequent measurement of inventories by replacing the lower of cost or market test with a lower of cost and net realizable value test. The guidance applies to inventories for which cost is determined by methods other than LIFO and the retail inventory method. The Company adopted this ASC during the first quarter of 2017 and it did not have an impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition: In May 2014, the FASB issued a final standard on revenue recognition which outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. This standard will supersede current revenue recognition guidance. Under the new standard, entities are required to identify the contract with a customer; identify the separate performance obligations in the contract; determine the transaction price; allocate the transaction price to the separate performance obligations in the contract; and recognize the appropriate amount of revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies each performance obligation. In August 2015, the FASB amended the ASC to delay the effective date to fiscal years, and the interim periods within those years, beginning on or after January 1, 2018, from the original effective date of January 1, 2017, with early adoption permitted no earlier than January 1, 2017. Entities have the option of using either retrospective transition or a modified approach in applying the new standard.

The Company plans to use the modified retrospective approach in applying the new standard. While the Company continues to assess the impact of the adoption of the new standard on the condensed consolidated financial statements, the most significant impacts are expected to be in the Boat and Fitness segments. In the Boat segment, certain customers are offered retail promotions that are currently recorded at the later of when the program has been communicated to the customer or at the time of sale. Under the new standard, these promotions will now be recognized at the time of sale, primarily upon shipment to customers. In the Fitness segment, certain customer contracts include product rebates recorded in cost of sales at the time of sale. Under the new standard, the Company will no longer record the rebate at the time of sale; however a portion of revenue will be deferred and not recognized until such time that the rebate is redeemed.

As a result, the Company expects a change in the timing of when certain promotions and rebates are recorded; however does not expect a change in the total amount of cumulative revenue recognized for each transaction.