SPAR Spartan Motors Inc

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

NOTE 1 - GENERAL AND SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

For a description of key accounting policies followed , refer to the notes to the Spartan Motors, Inc. (the “Company”, “we”, “our” or “us”) consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 3, 2017. There have been no changes in such accounting policies as of the date of this report.

Spartan Motors, Inc. is a custom engineer and manufacturer of specialized motor vehicle chassis and bodies. Our principal chassis markets are emergency response vehicles, motor homes and other specialty vehicles. We also manufacture bodies for various markets including emergency response vehicles and vehicles used in delivery, mobile retail and trades and construction industries.

Our operating activities are conducted through our wholly-owned operating subsidiary, Spartan Motors USA, Inc. (“Spartan USA”), with locations in Charlotte, Michigan; Brandon, South Dakota; Snyder and Neligh, Nebraska; Delavan, Wisconsin; Ephrata, Pennsylvania; Bristol, Indiana; Kansas City, Missouri; and Saltillo, Mexico.

Our Charlotte, Michigan location manufactures heavy duty chassis and vehicles and supplies aftermarket parts and accessories under the Spartan Chassis and Spartan ER brand names. Our Brandon, South Dakota; Snyder and Neligh, Nebraska; Delavan, Wisconsin; and Ephrata, Pennsylvania locations manufacture emergency response vehicles under the Spartan ER, Smeal, US Tanker and Ladder Tower Company brand names. Our Bristol, Indiana location manufactures vehicles used in the parcel delivery, mobile retail and trades and construction industries, and supplies related aftermarket parts and services under the Utilimaster brand name. Our Kansas City, Missouri and Saltillo, Mexico locations sell and install equipment used in fleet vehicles. Spartan USA is also a participant in Spartan-Gimaex Innovations, LLC (“Spartan-Gimaex”), a 50/50 joint venture with Gimaex Holding, Inc. that was formed to provide emergency response vehicles for the domestic and international markets. Spartan-Gimaex is reported as a consolidated subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. In February 2015, Spartan USA and Gimaex Holding, Inc. mutually agreed to begin discussions regarding the dissolution of the joint venture. In June 2015, Spartan USA and Gimaex Holding, Inc. entered into court proceedings to determine the terms of the dissolution. In February 2017, by agreement of the parties, the court proceeding was dismissed with prejudice and the judge entered an order to this effect as the parties agreed to seek a dissolution plan on their own. No dissolution terms have been determined as of the date of this Form 10-Q.

On January 1, 2017, Spartan USA acqui red substantially all of the assets and certain liabilities of Smeal Fire Apparatus Co., Smeal Properties, Inc., Ladder Tower Co., and U.S. Tanker Co. When used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, “Smeal” refers to the assets, liabilities, and operations acquired from such entities. The assets acquired consist of the assets used by the former owners of Smeal in the operation of its business designing, manufacturing, and distributing emergency response vehicle bodies and aerial devices for the fire service industry. Smeal has operations in Snyder and Neligh, Nebraska; Delavan, Wisconsin; and Ephrata, Pennsylvania and is operated as part of our Emergency Response Vehicles segment.

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments that are necessary for the fair presentation of our financial position as of September 30, 2017, the results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 and the cash flows for the nine month period ended September 30, 2017, and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

We are required to disclose the fair value of our financial instruments in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Codification relating to “Disclosures about Fair Values of Financial Instruments.” The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and our variable rate debt instruments approximate their fair value at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Certain immaterial amounts in the prior periods ’ financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on previously reported Net income (loss) or Total shareholders’ equity.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

New Accounting Standards

In February 2017 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-05, Other Income-Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20) (“ASU 2017-05”). ASU 2017-05 is intended to provide guidance for when gains and losses on nonfinancial assets should be applied to a financial asset by defining the term “nonfinancial asset”. ASU 2017-05 will go into effect when the revenue standard issued in ASU 2014-09 becomes effective. We believe that the adoption of the provisions of ASU 2017-05 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017- 04, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (“ASU 2017-4”). ASU 2017-4 eliminates the requirement to determine the fair value of individual assets and liabilities of a reporting unit to measure goodwill impairment. Under the amendments in the new ASU, goodwill impairment testing will be performed by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognizing an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. The new standard is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and should be applied on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted for annual or interim goodwill impairment testing performed after January 1, 2017. We believe that the adoption of the provisions of ASU 2017-04 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In January 2017, the FASB issued A ccounting Standards Update 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business (“ASU 2017-01”), which provides guidance to entities to assist with evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities (collectively, the "set") is a business and provides a screen to determine when a set is not a business. Under the new guidance, when substantially all of the fair value of gross assets acquired (or disposed of) is concentrated in a single identifiable asset, or group of similar assets, the assets acquired would not represent a business. Also, to be considered a business, an acquisition would have to include an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to produce outputs. The new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, and should be applied on a prospective basis to any transactions occurring within the period of adoption. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual periods in which the financial statements have not been issued. We believe that the adoption of the provisions of ASU 2017-01 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) (“ASU 2016-15”). ASU 2016-15 is intended to reduce diversity in current practice regarding the manner in which certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the cash flow statement. ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. We early adopted ASU 2016-15, effective with the third quarter of 2017, which did not have an impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows through September 30, 2017.

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 is intended to introduce a revised approach to the recognition and measurement of credit losses, emphasizing an updated model based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. The provisions of this standard are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. We believe that the adoption of the provisions of ASU 2016-13 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (“ASU 2016-09”). ASU 2016-09 simplifies the accounting for a stock payment’s tax consequences by requiring the recognition of the income tax effects of awards in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled. It also allows a company to elect to account for forfeitures as they occur rather than on an estimated basis and revises the classification of certain tax payments related to stock compensation on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The impact of our adoption of ASU 2016-09 for the year ending December 31, 2017 will depend on market factors and the timing and intrinsic value of future stock based compensation award vesting. Our adoption of ASU 2016-09 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows through September 30, 2017.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”). The new standard establishes a right-of-use (“ROU”) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. We are currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of ASU 2016-02 on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In July 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330) – Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU 2015-11”). ASU 2015-11 requires entities that measure inventory using the FIFO or average cost methods to measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value to more closely align the measurement of inventory in GAAP with International Financial Reporting Standards. Net realizable value is defined as estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less reasonably predictable costs of completion and disposal. ASU 2015-11 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Our adoption of ASU 2015-11 had no impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 is based on the principle that revenue should be recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, and may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of initial application. We have undertaken a detailed analysis of our various contracts with customers and revenue streams. We are currently in the process of evaluating aspects of revenue recognition for certain of our contracts with customers and expect to complete this evaluation in the fourth quarter of 2017. While our evaluation is not yet complete, based on our analysis to date we currently believe that our revenue recognition will be mostly consistent under both the current and new standard, with performance obligations being satisfied under the majority of our contracts with customers upon delivery of our products. We expect to utilize the practical expedient to not recognize the effects of financing when we receive customer deposits for contracts that will be fulfilled in less than one year. We expect that the disclosures in the notes to our consolidated financial statements related to revenue recognition will be significantly expanded under the new standard, specifically regarding the quantitative and qualitative information about performance obligations, and changes in contract assets and liabilties. We currently expect to adopt the new standard using the modified retrospective approach, under which the cumulative effect of the initial application of the new standard will be recognized as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings, in the first quarter of 2018.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) (“ASU 2016-08”). ASU 2016-08 clarifies the implementation guidance for principal-versus-agent considerations in the revenue recognition standard. A principal-versus-agent consideration applies to sales that involve two or more suppliers to a customer. Each participant in the sale must determine whether they control the good or service and are entitled to the gross amount of the transaction or are acting as an agent and should collect only a fee or commission for arranging the sale. ASU 2016-08 will go into effect when the revenue standard issued in ASU 2014-09 becomes effective.

In April 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing (“ASU 2016-10”). ASU 2016-10 clarifies the implementation guidance in Topic 606 for identifying performance obligations and determining when to recognize revenue on licensing agreements for intellectual property. ASU 2016-10 removes the requirement to assess whether promised goods or services are performance obligations if they are immaterial to the contract with the customer and allows an entity to elect to account for shipping and handling activities that occur after the customer has obtained control of a good as an activity to fulfill the promise to transfer the good rather than as an additional promised service. ASU 2016-10 also includes implementation guidance on determining whether a license granted by an entity provides a customer with a right to use the intellectual property, which is satisfied at a point in time, or a right to access the intellectual property, which is satisfied over time. ASU 2016-10 will go into effect when the revenue standard issued in ASU 2014-09 becomes effective.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

In May 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients (“ASU 2016-12”). ASU 2016-12 clarifies the implementation guidance on assessing collectability, presentation of sales taxes, non-cash consideration and completed contracts and contract modifications at transition. ASU 2016-12 will go into effect when the revenue standard issued in ASU 2014-09 becomes effective.

NOTE 2 – ACQUISITION ACTIVITIES

On January 1, 2017, we completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets and certain liabilities of Smeal pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement dated December 12, 2016.

This acquisition will bring significant scale to our Emergency Response Vehicles segment, expand the geographic reach of our dealer network and add complementary products to our existing emergency response product portfolio .

Sales and operatin g income included in our results since the January 1, 2017 acquisition are as follows:

T he above operating income amounts include a one-time charge to cost of products sold of $0 and $189 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 related to the fair value step-up of inventories acquired from Smeal and sold during the period.

Pro forma Results of Operation (Unaudited)

The following table provides unaudited pro forma net sales and results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, as if Smeal had been acquired on January 1 of 2016. The unaudited pro forma results reflect certain adjustments related to the acquisition, such as changes in the depreciation and amortization expense on the Smeal assets acquired resulting from the fair valuation of assets acquired, expenses incurred to complete the acquisition and the impact of acquisition financing. The pro forma results do not include any anticipated cost synergies or other effects of the planned integration of Smeal. Accordingly, such pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of the results that actually would have occurred had the acquisition been completed on the date indicated, nor are they indicative of the future operating results of the combined company.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Purchase Price Allocation

The total purchase price paid for our acquisition of Smeal was $42,489, subject to a net working capital adjustment and the tax gross-up payment described below. The consideration paid consisted of $28,903 in cash, net of cash acquired of $3,825, and the forgiveness of certain liabilities owed by the former owners of Smeal to the Company in the amount of $7,391. Pursuant to the purchase agreement, the sellers may receive additional consideration in the form of a tax gross-up payment, which is payable no later than April 1, 2018, and is not expected to exceed $2,400. The consideration paid is subject to certain post-closing adjustments, including a net working capital adjustment that we expect to finalize in the fourth quarter of 2017. Smeal has been a significant chassis customer of Spartan USA. The price paid pursuant to the purchase agreement was the subject of arm's length negotiation between Smeal and us.

This acquisition w as accounted for using the purchase method of accounting with the purchase price allocated to the assets purchased and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Identifiable intangible assets include trade-names and certain non-patented technology. The preliminary excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired of $11,528 was recorded as goodwill. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company made certain adjustments to its purchase price allocation to adjust inventory, other current assets, accrued warranty and other liabilities, which resulted in a $1,666 increase in goodwill. We recorded an estimate for contingent consideration related to the tax gross-up payment, valued in accordance with accounting guidance for business combinations and fair value measurements at $2,370.

The preliminary allocation of purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed is as follows:

Contingent Consideration

Pursuant to the purchase agreement, the former owners of Smeal may receive additional consideration in the form of a tax gross-up payment . The purchase agreement specifies that Spartan will make a payment to the former owners of Smeal to cover certain state and federal tax liabilities for the tax year ending December 31, 2017 that result from the transaction. The payment is expected to be between $0 and $2,400 and will be based on state and federal income tax regulations in effect at the time of the payment for the tax year ending December 31, 2017. Under tax rules in effect as of the filing of this Form 10-Q, the additional consideration would be approximately $2,400. In accordance with accounting guidance for business combinations, the value of the future consideration was recorded based upon tax rules in effect at the time of the acquisition, discounted to January 1, 2017 using a risk free discount rate of 1%. Changes in this estimate, other than changes in its present value, will be reflected as adjustments to the purchase price for a period of up to one year after the closing. Changes in the present value of the contingent consideration will be reflected in operating income in the period of such change.

Goodwill Assigned

The acquisition resulted in the recognition, on a preliminary basis, of $11,528 of goodwill, which is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. The goodwill recognized is subject to a final net working capital adjustment and any necessary adjustment to the contingent consideration.

Goodwill consists of expected synergies resulting from the acquisition and the estimated value of the workforce employed. Key areas of expected cost savings include an expanded dealer network; complementary product portfolios; manufacturing and supply chain work process improvements; and the elimination of redundant corporate overhead.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Financing for the Acquisition

Our acquisition of Smeal was financed using $32,800 borrowed from our existing $100,000 line of credit, as set forth in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2016, by and among us and our affiliates, as borrowers; certain lenders; Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent; and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner.

Acquisition Related Expenses

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we recorded pretax charges totaling $11 and $742 for legal expenses and other transaction costs related to the acquisition. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, we recorded pretax charges totaling $159 and $159 for legal expenses and other transaction costs related to the acquisition. These charges, which were expensed in accordance with the accounting guidance for business combinations, were recorded in “Selling, general and administrative” and reflected within the “Other” column in the business segment table in Note 9, Business Segments .

We have a number of demonstration units used as part of our sales program. These demonstration units are included in the “Finished goods” line item above. The net carrying amount was $7,726 and $3,558 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

NOTE 4 – GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill

As described in Note 2 - Acquisition Activities, we acquired substantially all of the assets and related liabilities of Smeal on January 1, 2017. The difference between the consideration paid and the acquisition-date fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed was recognized as goodwill, as disclosed in the table below. Due to the short period of time that has elapsed since the acquisition of Smeal, it is our assessment that the goodwill at Smeal is not impaired. The goodwill at Smeal will be evaluated as part of the next annual assessment which will occur as of October 1, 2017, unless there is a triggering event that would necessitate an earlier evaluation.

During the second quarter of 2017, operations related to the manufacturing of our Reach delivery vehicle were reassigned to our Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segment from our Fleet Vehicles and Services segment to reflect the information and reports that our chief operating decision makers use to allocate resources to and assess the performance of our operating segments. As a result, a portion of the goodwill assigned to our Fleet Vehicles and Services segment was reassigned to our Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segment using a relative fair value approach.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by reportable segment, are as follows:

With the acquisition of Smeal, we acquired other intangible assets besides goodwill. We recorded $3,900 in intangible assets from the acquisition. The intangible assets consist of unpatented technology and various trade names. The unpatented technology will be amortized using the straight-line method over its estimated remaining useful life of 10 years, consistent with the pattern of economic benefits estimated to be received. The trade names are considered to have indefinite lives, and as such will not be amortized but will be tested for impairment annually or if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the trade names are impaired.

The following table provides information regarding our other intangible assets:

We recorded intangible asset amortization expense of $214 and $177 during the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 and $643 and $531 during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

The estimated remaining amortization associated with finite-lived intangible assets is expected to be expensed as follows:

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Under the terms of the primary line of credit agreement, we are required to maintain certain financial ratios and other financial conditions, which limited our available borrowings under our line of credit to a total of approximately $45,500 and $73,600 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, net of borrowings outstanding. The agreement also prohibits us from incurring additional indebtedness; limits certain acquisitions, investments, advances or loans; limits our ability to pay dividends in certain circumstances; and restricts substantial asset sales. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we were in compliance with all debt covenants.

NOTE 6 – RESTRUCTURING

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we incurred restructuring charges related to a company-wide initiative to streamline operations and integrate our Smeal acquisition.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, we incurred restructuring charges related to efforts undertaken to upgrade production processes at our Brandon, South Dakota and Ephrata, Pennsylvania locations.

Restructuring charges included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, broken down by segment, are as follows:

Restructuring charges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 reflected within Operating expense in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations were $304 and $871 and related to manufacturing process reengineering. All of these charges were related to our Emergency Response Vehicles segment.

The following table provides a summary of the compensation related charges incurred during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 as part of our restructuring initiatives, along with the related outstanding balances to be paid in relation to those expenses, which is reflected within Accrued compensation and related taxes on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

There were no compensation related charges incurred during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016.

NOTE 7 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Under the terms of our credit agreement with our banks, we have the ability to issue letters of credit totaling $20,000. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had outstanding letters of credit totaling $906 and $1,599 related to certain emergency response vehicle contracts and our workers compensation insurance.

At September 30, 2017, we and our subsidiaries were parties, both as plaintiff and defendant, to a number of lawsuits and claims arising out of the normal course of our businesses. In the opinion of management, our financial position, future operating results or cash flows will not be materially affected by the final outcome of these legal proceedings.

Chassis Agreements  

We are party to chassis bailment inventory agreements with General Motors Company (“GM”) and Chrysler Group, LLC (“Chrysler”) which allow GM and Chrysler to draw up to $10,000 against our revolving credit line for chassis placed at our facilities. As a result of these agreements, there was $144 and $784 outstanding on our revolving credit line at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. Under the terms of the bailment inventory agreements, these chassis never become our property and the amount drawn against the credit line will be repaid by a GM or Chrysler dealer at the time an order is placed for one of our bodies, utilizing a GM or Chrysler chassis. As such, the chassis, and the related draw on the line of credit, are not reflected in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

  Warranty Related

We provide limited warranties against assembly/construction defects. These warranties generally provide for the replacement or repair of defective parts or workmanship for a specified period following the date of sale. The end users also may receive limited warranties from suppliers of components that are incorporated into our chassis and vehicles.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Certain warranty and other related claims involve matters of dispute that ultimately are resolved by negotiation, arbitration or litigation. Infrequently, a material warranty issue can arise which is beyond the scope of our historical experience. We provide for any such warranty issues as they become known and are estimable. It is reasonably possible that additional warranty and other related claims could arise from disputes or other matters beyond the scope of our historical experience.

Changes in our warranty liability during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:

Spartan-Gimaex joint venture

In February , 2015, Spartan USA and Gimaex Holding, Inc. mutually agreed to begin discussions regarding the dissolution of the Spartan-Gimaex joint venture. In June 2015, Spartan USA and Gimaex Holding, Inc. entered into court proceedings to determine the terms of the dissolution. In February 2017, by agreement of the parties, the court proceeding was dismissed with prejudice and the judge entered an order to this effect as the parties agreed to seek a dissolution plan on their own. No dissolution terms have been determined as of the date of this Form 10-Q. Costs associated with the wind-down will be impacted by the final dissolution agreement. In accordance with accounting guidance, the costs we have accrued so far represent the low end of the range of the estimated total charges that we believe we may incur related to the wind-down. While we are unable to determine the final cost of the wind-down with certainty at this time, we may incur additional charges, depending on the final terms of the dissolution, and such charges could be material to our future operating results.

N OTE 8 – TAXES

Our effective income tax rate was -38.4% and -35.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and was -4.3% and -0.1% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. Our effective tax rates during 2017 and 2016 were impacted by the deferred tax asset valuation allowance recorded in 2015. Based upon an assessment of the available positive and negative evidence as of September 30, 2017, we determined that it was more likely than not that a significant portion of the valuation allowance recorded against our deferred tax assets was no longer necessary. A major portion of such positive evidence included cumulative profits incurred over the three year period ended September 30, 2017 as well as forecasted future profits. Our remaining valuation allowance at September 30, 2017 of $3,164 offsets deferred tax assets for certain state net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, based upon an assessment of anticipated future taxable income apportionable to those states. Taxes of $(3,736) and $(3,561) recorded during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 reflects the reversal of $6,577 of the valuation allowance originally recorded in 2015. The valuation allowance resulted in a tax rate applied to 2016 earnings of 0% due to our ability to offset current period tax liability against our recorded valuation allowance. Taxes of $(113) and $(11) recorded during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 result from certain discrete adjustments, including adjustments for uncertain tax positions and a true-up of certain prior provisions for various state tax liabilities to the amounts reported on the actual tax filings.

NOTE 9 - BUSINESS SEGMENTS

We identify our reportable segments based on our management structure and the financial data utilized by our chief operating decision makers to assess segment performance and allocate resources among our operating units. We have three reportable segments: Emergency Response Vehicles, Fleet Vehicles and Services, and Specialty Chassis and Vehicles. As a result of a realignment of our operating segments completed during the second quarter of 2017, certain fleet vehicles are now manufactured by our Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segment and sold via intercompany transactions to our Fleet Vehicles and Services segment, which then sells the vehicles to the final customer. Segment results from prior periods are shown reflecting the estimated impact of this realignment as if it had been in place for those periods.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Beginning in 2017, we evaluate the performance of our reportable segments based on Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and other adjustments made in order to present comparable results from period to period. These adjustments include restructuring charges and items related to our acquisition of Smeal, such as expenses incurred to complete the acquisition, the impact of fair value adjustments to inventory acquired from Smeal, and the impact on the timing of the recognition of gross profit for our chassis that are utilized by our recently acquired Smeal operations. We exclude these items from earnings because we believe they will be incurred infrequently and/or are otherwise not indicative of a segment's regular, ongoing operating performance. For those reasons, Adjusted EBITDA is also used as a performance metric for our executive compensation program, as discussed in our proxy statement for our 2017 annual meeting of shareholders, which proxy statement was filed with the SEC on April 13, 2017.

Our Emergency Response Vehicles segment consists of the emergency response chassis operations at our Charlotte, Michigan location and our operations at our Brandon, South Dakota; Snyder and Neligh, Nebraska; Delavan, Wisconsin; and Ephrata, Pennsylvania locations, along with our Spartan-Gimaex joint venture. This segment engineers and manufactures emergency response chassis and vehicles.

Our Fleet Vehicles and Services segment consists of our operations at our Bristol and Wakarusa, Indiana locations, along with our operations at our up-fit centers in Kansas City, Missouri and Saltillo, Mexico and focuses on designing and manufacturing walk-in vans for the delivery and service market and the production of commercial truck bodies along with related aftermarket parts and assemblies.

Our Specialty Chassis and Vehicles segment consists of our Charlotte, Michigan operations that engineer and manufacture motor home chassis, defense vehicles and other specialty chassis and distribute related aftermarket parts and assemblies.

Appropriate expense amounts are allocated to the three reportable segments and are included in their reported operating income or loss.

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described, or referred to, in Note 1 - General and Summary of Accounting Policies . Assets and related depreciation expense in the column labeled “Eliminations and other” pertain to capital assets maintained at the corporate level. Eliminations for inter-segment sales are shown in the column labeled “Eliminations and other”. Segment loss from operations in the “Eliminations and other” column contains corporate related expenses not allocable to the operating segments. Interest expense and Taxes on income are not included in the information utilized by the chief operating decision makers to assess segment performance and allocate resources, and accordingly, are excluded from the segment results presented below.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The table below present s the reconciliation of our consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to net income. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income. Adjusted EBITDA may have limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. In addition, although we have excluded certain charges in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, we may in the future incur expenses similar to these adjustments, despite our assessment that such expenses are infrequent and/or not indicative of our regular, ongoing operating performance. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or infrequent items.