Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Nature Of Operations And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies

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Nature Of Operations And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Nature Of Operations And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Nature Of Operations And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies NOTE 1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

The accompanying audited consolidated financial statements of Clarus Corporation and subsidiaries (which may be referred to as the “Company,” “Clarus,” “we,” “our” or “us”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

Nature of Business

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, we are a global leading designer, developer, manufacturer and distributor of best-in-class outdoor equipment and lifestyle products focused on the outdoor and consumer enthusiast markets. Our mission is to identify, acquire and grow outdoor “super fan” brands through our unique “innovate and accelerate” strategy. We define a “super fan” brand as a brand that creates the world’s pre-eminent, performance-defining product that the best-in-class user cannot live without. Each of our brands has a long history of continuous product innovation for core and everyday users alike. The Company’s products are principally sold globally under the Black Diamond®, Sierra®, Barnes®, Rhino-Rack® and MAXTRAX® brand names through outdoor specialty and online retailers, our own websites, distributors and original equipment manufacturers.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The more significant estimates relate to the fair value of net assets acquired in business combinations, excess or obsolete inventory, allowance for credit losses, contingent consideration liabilities, and valuation of deferred tax assets, long-lived assets, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, and other intangible assets. We base our estimates on historical experience, projected future cash flows, and other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Clarus Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translation

The accounts of the Company’s international subsidiaries’ financial statements which have functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate at the balance sheet dates for assets and liabilities and average exchange rates for the periods for revenues, expenses, gains and losses. Foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income.

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company did not hold any amounts that were considered to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses

The Company records its trade receivables at sales value. The trade receivables do not bear interest. The Company performs on-going credit evaluations of its customers and adjusts credit limits based upon payment history and the customer’s current credit worthiness, as determined by the review of their current credit information. The Company evaluates the collectability of its accounts receivable and determines the appropriate allowance for credit losses based on a combination of factors. A non-specific allowance for estimated credit losses is recorded based on historical experience of collectability. In addition, specific allowances are established for customer accounts as known collection problems occur due to insolvency, disputes or other collection issues. The amounts of these specific allowances are estimated by management based on the customer’s financial position, the age of the customer’s receivables and the reasons for any disputes. The allowance for credit losses is reduced by subsequent collections of the specific allowances or by any write-off of customer accounts that are deemed uncollectible. The allowance for credit losses was $1,211 and $811 at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. There were no significant write-offs during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (using the first-in, first-out method “FIFO”) or net realizable value. Elements of cost in the Company’s manufactured inventories generally include raw materials, direct labor, manufacturing overhead and freight in. The Company reviews its inventories for excess, close-out, or slow-moving items and makes provisions as necessary to properly reflect inventory values.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is stated at historical cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives. The principal estimated useful lives are: buildings, 30 years; building improvements, 20 years; machinery and equipment, 3-10 years; computer hardware and software, 3-5 years; furniture and fixtures, 5 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the estimated useful life of the improvement or the life of the lease. Major replacements, which extend the useful lives of equipment, are capitalized and depreciated over the remaining useful life. Normal maintenance and repair items are expensed as incurred. Property and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances exist that indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Property and equipment located outside of the United States are not considered material.

Leases

Lease assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the commencement of an arrangement where it is determined at inception that a lease exists.  Lease assets represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. These assets and liabilities are initially recognized based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term calculated using our incremental borrowing rate. Lease terms include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that those options will be exercised.

Variable lease payments are generally expensed as incurred and include certain non-lease components, such as common area maintenance and other services provided by the lessor, and other charges such as utilities, insurance and property taxes included in the lease.  Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet, and the expense for these short-term leases and for leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Non-lease components are excluded from the right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and lease liability present value computations. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair market value of identifiable net assets of acquired companies. Goodwill is not amortized, but rather is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level annually as of December 31st of each year or more frequently if triggering events or changes in circumstances indicate impairment, such as a significant adverse change in business climate. The Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, through this qualitative assessment, the conclusion is made that it is more likely than not that a reporting unit's fair value is less than its carrying amount, or the Company elects to bypass the qualitative assessment, a quantitative impairment analysis is performed. We estimate the reporting unit’s fair value using a combination of the income approach based upon projected discounted cash flows of the reporting unit and the market approach based upon the market multiple of comparable publicly traded companies. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized for the excess carrying amount over the fair value computation. Based on the results of the Company’s annual impairment tests completed as of December 31, 2022, the Company recognized goodwill impairment in our Adventure reporting unit of $52,071. No impairment of goodwill was recorded during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets represent other intangible assets and indefinite-lived intangible assets acquired. The Company’s other intangible assets, such as certain customer relationships, product technologies, tradenames, trademarks and core technologies with finite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Other intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances exist that indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.

The Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets consists of certain tradenames and trademarks that provide Black Diamond Equipment, PIEPS, Sierra, Barnes, Rhino-Rack, and MAXTRAX with the exclusive and perpetual rights to manufacture and sell their respective products. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized; however, they are tested for impairment annually as of December 31st of each year or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances exist that may indicate impairment. The Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. If, through this qualitative assessment, the conclusion is made that it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset's fair value is less than its carrying amount, or the Company elects to bypass the qualitative assessment, a quantitative impairment analysis is performed by comparing the indefinite-lived intangible asset's book value to its estimated fair value. The fair value for indefinite-lived intangible assets is determined through an income approach using the relief-from-royalty method. The amount of any impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the impaired asset. Based on the results of the Company’s annual impairment tests completed as of December 31, 2022, the Company recognized an impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets in our Adventure reporting unit, specifically the Rhino-Rack trademark, of $40,240 during the year ended December 31, 2022. No impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets was recorded during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company uses derivative instruments to hedge currency rate movements on foreign currency denominated sales. The Company enters into forward contracts, option contracts and non-deliverable forwards to manage the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on a portion of its forecasted foreign currency exposure. These derivatives are carried at fair value on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets in prepaid and other current assets, other long-term assets, accrued liabilities, and other long-term liabilities. Changes in fair value of the derivatives not designated as hedge instruments are included in Other, net in the determination of net income. For derivative contracts designated as hedge instruments, the effective portion of gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value of the instruments are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss and reclassified to sales in the period the underlying hedged item is recognized in earnings.

For all hedging relationships, the Company formally documents the hedging relationship and its risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge, the hedging instrument, the hedged transaction, the nature of the risk being hedged, how the hedging instrument’s effectiveness in offsetting the hedged risk will be assessed prospectively and retrospectively, and a description of the method used to measure ineffectiveness. The Company also formally assesses, both at the inception of the hedging relationship and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging relationships are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged transactions. The Company uses operating budgets and cash flow forecasts to estimate future foreign currency cash flow exposures and to determine the level and timing of derivative transactions intended to mitigate such exposures in accordance with its risk management policies. The Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when it determines that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting cash flows attributable to the hedged risk, the derivative expires or is sold, terminated, or exercised, the cash flow hedge is de-designated because a forecasted transaction is not probable of occurring, or management determines to remove the designation of the cash flow hedge. The Company does not enter into material derivative instruments for any purpose other than cash flow hedging. The Company does not speculate using derivative instruments.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company records compensation expense for all share-based awards granted based on the fair value of the award at the time of the grant. The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model that uses assumptions and estimates that the Company believes are reasonable. Stock-based compensation costs for stock awards and restricted stock awards is measured based on the closing market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. For restricted stock awards subject to market conditions, the fair value of each restricted stock award has been estimated as of the date of grant using the Monte-Carlo pricing model. The Company recognizes the cost of the share-based awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award and recognizes forfeitures in the period they occur. Stock options granted have contractual terms of up to ten years. Upon exercise of stock options or vesting of restricted stock awards, the Company issues shares from new shares authorized and reserved for issuance.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when a contract exists with a customer that specifies the goods and services to be provided at an agreed upon sales price and when the performance obligation is satisfied by transferring the goods or service to the customer. The performance obligation is considered complete when control transfers, which is determined when products are shipped or delivered to the customer depending on the terms of the contract. Sales are made on normal and customary short-term credit terms or upon delivery of point-of-sale transactions.

The Company enters into contractual arrangements with customers in the form of individual customer orders which specify the goods, quantity, pricing, and associated order terms. The Company does not have long-term contracts that are satisfied over time. Due to the nature of the contracts, no significant judgment exists in relation to the identification of the customer contract, satisfaction of the performance obligation, or transaction price. The Company expenses incremental costs of obtaining a contract due to the short-term nature of the contracts.

The Company’s contract terms or historical business practices can give rise to variable consideration such as term discounts and customer cooperative payments. We estimate the expected term discounts based on an analysis of historical experience and record cash discounts as a reduction to revenue. Through cooperative advertising programs, the Company reimburses its wholesale customers for some of their costs of advertising the Company’s products. The Company records such costs as a reduction of revenue, where the fair value cannot be reasonably estimated or where costs exceed the fair value of the services.

At the time of revenue recognition, we also provide for estimated sales returns and miscellaneous claims from customers as reductions to revenues. The estimates are based on historical rates of product returns and claims. The Company accrues for such estimated returns and claims with an estimated accrual and associated reduction of revenue. Additionally, the Company records inventory that it expects to be returned as an other current asset, with a corresponding reduction of cost of goods sold.

Sales commissions are expensed as incurred. These costs are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income. Taxes collected from customers and remitted to government authorities are reported on the net basis and are excluded from sales.

Cost of Goods Sold

The expenses that are included in cost of goods sold include all direct product costs and costs related to shipping, certain warehousing or handling, duties and importation fees. Product warranty costs and specific provisions for excess, close-out, or slow-moving inventory are also included in cost of goods sold. Certain warehousing or handling costs which are not associated with the manufacturing of goods for sale are excluded from cost of goods sold.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense

Selling, general and administrative expense includes personnel-related costs, including stock-based compensation, product development, selling, advertising, visual merchandise, depreciation and amortization, and other general operating expenses. Advertising costs are expensed in the period incurred. Total advertising expense, including cooperative advertising costs, were $8,280, $5,945, and $3,833 for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively.

Through cooperative advertising programs, the Company reimburses its wholesale customers for some of their costs of advertising the Company’s products based on various criteria, including the value of purchases from the Company and various advertising specifications. Cooperative advertising costs were not material for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020.

Product Warranty

Some of the Company’s products carry warranty provisions for defects in quality and workmanship. Warranty repairs and replacements are recorded in cost of goods sold and a warranty liability is established at the time of sale to cover estimated costs based on the Company’s history of warranty repairs and replacements. For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, the Company experienced warranty claims on its products of $1,221, $1,863, and $1,201, respectively.

Research and Development

Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred, and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income. Total research and development costs were $14,645, $11,857, and $10,159 for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively.

Transaction Costs

Transaction costs consists of expenses related to the Company’s various acquisition efforts and capital-raising activities, including those associated with acquiring Sierra, Barnes, Rhino-Rack and MAXTRAX.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Income taxes are based on amounts of taxes payable or refundable in the current year and on expected future tax consequences of events that are recognized in the financial statements in different periods than they are recognized in tax returns. As a result of timing of recognition and measurement differences between financial accounting standards and income tax laws, temporary differences arise between amounts of pre-tax financial statement income and taxable income and between reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets and their respective tax bases. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities reported in the consolidated balance sheets reflect estimated future tax effects attributable to these temporary differences and to net operating loss and net capital loss carryforwards, based on enacted tax rates expected to be in effect for years in which the differences are expected to be settled or realized. The Company has netted these deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities by jurisdiction. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on future taxable income in specific jurisdictions. Valuation allowances are used to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts considered more likely than not to be realized. U.S. deferred income taxes are not provided on undistributed income of foreign subsidiaries where such earnings are considered to be permanently invested. Unremitted taxes on undistributed foreign earnings are not material for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020.

The Company releases residual tax effects in accumulated other comprehensive loss through continuing operations as the underlying asset matures or expires.

The Company recognizes tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax benefit. Unrecognized tax benefits that reduce a net operating loss, similar tax loss or tax credit carryforward, are presented as a reduction to deferred income taxes. The Company recognizes interest expense and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax benefit.

Concentration of Credit Risk and Sales

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist principally of cash, accounts receivable, and aggregate unrealized gains (losses) on derivative contracts. Risks associated with cash within the United States are mitigated by banking with federally insured, creditworthy institutions; however, there are balances with these institutions that are greater than the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limit. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and maintains allowances for possible losses as considered necessary by management.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, no single customer contributed more than 10% of the Company’s sales. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, Recreational Equipment, Inc. (“REI”) accounted for approximately 10% of the Company’s sales each year. These sales are included in the Outdoor segment. No other single customer contributed more than 10% of the Company’s sales during those periods. As of December 31, 2022, no single customer contributed more than 10% of the Company's accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2021, REI accounted for approximately 11% of the Company’s accounts receivable.

Fair Value Measurements

The carrying value of cash, accounts receivable, and accrued liabilities approximate their respective fair values due to the short-term nature and liquidity of these financial instruments. Derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value based on current market pricing models. The Company estimates that, due to the variable interest rates reflecting current market rates, the fair value of its long-term debt obligations under its revolving credit facility and term loan approximate the carrying value at December 31, 2022 and 2021.

Contingent Consideration Liabilities

Contingent consideration liabilities are required to be recognized at fair value as of the acquisition date. We estimate the fair value of these liabilities based on financial projections of the acquired company, such as sales-based milestones and estimated probabilities of achievement. Based on updated estimates and projections, the contingent consideration liabilities are adjusted at each reporting date to their estimated fair value. Changes in fair value subsequent to the acquisition date are reported in contingent consideration benefit in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income. Variations in the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities may result from changes in discount periods or rates, changes in the timing and amount of sales estimates, and changes in probability assumptions with respect to the likelihood of achieving sales milestones.

Segment Information

We operate our business structure within three segments. These segments are defined based on the internal financial reporting used by our chief operating decision maker to allocate resources and assess performance. Certain significant selling, general and administrative expenses are not allocated to the segments including non-cash stock compensation expense.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period financial statements to conform to the current period presentation. Specifically, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, which were combined and disclosed as one amount, and certain deferred tax assets, which were combined and disclosed as one amount within Note 15, are now presented separately.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Pronouncements adopted during 2022

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The ASU was adopted on a prospective basis. This ASU provides temporary optional expedients and exceptions to existing guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to facilitate the market transition from existing reference rates, such as the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), to alternate reference rates, such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”). The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.