SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements furnished reflect all normal and recurring adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. The results of operations of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full fiscal year. The interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. Certain prior year amounts in the notes to the consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. Management Estimates The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses reported in those financial statements. Descriptions of the Company’s significant accounting policies are discussed in the notes to consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. Management evaluates the related estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, and makes adjustments when facts and circumstances dictate. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from those estimates and assumptions. Significant changes, if any, in those estimates and assumptions resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment, including those related to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, will be reflected in the consolidated financial statements in future periods. Currency Translation and Transactions All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries and affiliates are translated at period-end rates of exchange, while revenue and expenses are translated at monthly average rates of exchange for the period. Unrealized translation gains (losses), net of tax, reported as translation adjustments through other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”) attributable to The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. were $291 million and $(20) million, net of tax, during the three months ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and $(61) million and $(195) million, net of tax, during the six months ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. For the Company’s subsidiaries operating in highly inflationary economies, the U.S. dollar is the functional currency. Remeasurement adjustments in financial statements in a highly inflationary economy and other transactional gains and losses are reflected in earnings. These subsidiaries are not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements or liquidity. The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts and may enter into option contracts to hedge foreign currency transactions for periods consistent with its identified exposures. The Company also enters into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge a portion of its net investment in certain foreign operations, which are designated as net investment hedges. See Note 4 – Derivative Financial Instruments for further discussion . The Company categorizes these instruments as entered into for purposes other than trading. The accompanying consolidated statements of earnings include net exchange gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions of $20 million and $(6) million during the three months ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and $34 million and $(18) million during the six months ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Concentration of Credit Risk The Company is a worldwide manufacturer, marketer and seller of skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The Company’s sales subject to credit risk are made primarily to retailers in its travel retail business, department stores, specialty multi-brand retailers and perfumeries. The Company grants credit to qualified customers. While the Company does not believe it is exposed significantly to any undue concentration of credit risk at this time, it continues to monitor its customers' abilities, individually and collectively, to make timely payments. The Company’s largest customer during the three and six months ended December 31, 2022 sells products primarily in China travel retail. This customer accounted for $242 million, or 12%, and $399 million, or 24%, of the Company's accounts receivable at December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022, respectively. Inventory and Promotional Merchandise Inventory and promotional merchandise consists of the following: (In millions) December 31, 2022 June 30, 2022 Raw materials $ 918 $ 791 Work in process 318 366 Finished goods 1,519 1,449 Promotional merchandise 314 314 $ 3,069 $ 2,920 Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment consists of the following: (In millions) December 31, 2022 June 30, 2022 Assets (Useful Life) Land $ 54 $ 53 Buildings and improvements (10 to 40 years) 504 491 Machinery and equipment (3 to 10 years) 1,027 994 Computer hardware and software (4 to 10 years) 1,587 1,468 Furniture and fixtures (5 to 10 years) 134 129 Leasehold improvements 2,266 2,246 Construction in progress 1,008 759 6,580 6,140 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (3,672) (3,490) $ 2,908 $ 2,650 Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment was $138 million and $136 million during the three months ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and $274 million and $266 million during the six months ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Depreciation and amortization related to the Company’s manufacturing process is included in Cost of sales, and all other depreciation and amortization is included in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings. Income Taxes The effective rate for income taxes for the three and six months ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 are as follows: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended 2022 2021 2022 2021 Effective rate for income taxes 25.4 % 21.5 % 23.9 % 21.9 % Basis-point change from the prior-year period 390 200 For the three and six months ended December 31, 2022, the increase in the effective tax rate was primarily attributable to a decrease in excess tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation arrangements and a higher effective tax rate on the Company's foreign operations, partially offset by a reduction in income tax reserve adjustments. On August 16, 2022, the U.S. federal government enacted the Inflation Reduction Act, with tax provisions primarily focused on implementing a 1% excise tax on share repurchases and a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax based on global adjusted financial statement income. The excise tax is effective beginning with the Company’s third quarter of fiscal 2023 and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position. The corporate alternative minimum tax will be effective beginning with the Company's first quarter of fiscal 2024. The Company continues to monitor developments and evaluate projected impacts, if any, of this provision to its consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022, the gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits, exclusive of interest and penalties, totaled $58 million and $61 million, respectively. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2022 that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate was $49 million. The total gross interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits during the three and six months ended December 31, 2022 in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings was $1 million and $2 million, respectively. The total gross accrued interest and penalties in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at each of December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022, was $15 million and $14 million, respectively. On the basis of the information available as of December 31, 2022, the Company does not expect significant changes to the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months. During the fiscal 2023 first quarter, the Company formally concluded the compliance process with respect to its fiscal 2021 income tax return under the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Compliance Assurance Program (“CAP”), which had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended December 31, 2022. Other Accrued and Noncurrent Liabilities Other accrued liabilities consist of the following: (In millions) December 31, 2022 June 30, 2022 Advertising, merchandising and sampling $ 284 $ 250 Employee compensation 473 693 Deferred revenue 344 312 Payroll and other non-income taxes 308 345 Accrued income taxes 343 267 Sales return accrual 293 252 Other 1,494 1,241 $ 3,539 $ 3,360 At December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022, total Other noncurrent liabilities of $1,487 million and $1,651 million included $636 million and $692 million of deferred tax liabilities, respectively. Recently Issued Accounting Standards FASB ASU No. 2022-04 – Liabilities—Supplier Finance Programs (Subtopic 405-50): Disclosure of Supplier Finance Program Obligations In September 2022, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which is intended to enhance the transparency surrounding the use of supplier finance programs. The guidance requires companies that use supplier finance programs to make annual disclosures about the program’s key terms, the balance sheet presentation of related amounts, the confirmed amount outstanding at the end of the period and associated rollforward information. Only the amount outstanding at the end of the period must be disclosed in interim periods. The guidance does not affect the recognition, measurement or financial statement presentation of supplier finance program obligations. Effective for the Company – The guidance becomes effective for the Company’s first quarter fiscal 2024 and is applied on a retrospective basis, except for the requirement to disclose rollforward information which is effective prospectively for the Company’s first quarter fiscal 2025. Early adoption is permitted. Annual disclosures need to be provided in interim periods within the initial year of adoption. Impact on consolidated financial statements – The Company has a supplier financing arrangement and will apply the disclosure requirements as required by the amendments. Reference Rate Reform (ASC Topic 848 “ ASC 848 ” ) In March 2020, t he FAS B issued authoritative guidance to provide optional relief for companies preparing for the discontinuation of interest rates such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and applies to lease and other contracts, hedging instruments, held-to-maturity debt securities and debt arrangements that reference LIBOR or another rate that is expected to be discontinued as a result of reference rate reform. In January 2021, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that makes amendments to the new rules on accounting for reference rate reform. The amendments clar ify that for all derivative instruments affected by the changes to interest rates used for discounting, margining or contract price alignment, regardless of whether they reference LIBOR or another rate expected to be discontinued as a result of reference rate reform, an entity may apply certain practical expedients in ASC 848. In December 2022, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to defer the sunset date of ASC 848 from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2024. Effective for the Company – This guidance can only be applied for a limited time through December 31, 2024. Impact on consolidated financial statements – The Company currently has an implementation team in place that has performed a comprehensive evaluation and is assessing the impact of applying this guidance, which includes assessing the impact to business processes and internal controls over financial reporting and the related disclosure requirements. For treasury related arrangements, the Company references LIBOR in its interest rate swap agreements and LIBOR is also used for purposes of discounting certain foreign currency and interest rate forward contracts. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of modifying treasury related arrangements and applying the relevant ASC 848 optional practical expedients, as needed. For existing lease, debt arrangements and other contracts, the Company will not adopt any ASC 848 optional practical expedients as it relates to these arrangements. The Company will continue to monitor new contracts that could potentially be eligible for contract modification relief through December 31, 2024. No other recently issued accounting pronouncements are expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. |