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Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Nov. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Consolidation The financial statements include the accounts of our majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries and affiliates. Intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Investments in unconsolidated affiliates, over which we exercise significant influence, but not control, are accounted for by the equity method. Accordingly, our share of net income or loss of unconsolidated affiliates is included in net income. Foreign Currency Translation For majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries and affiliates, if located outside of the U.S., with functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar, asset and liability accounts are translated at the rates of exchange at the balance sheet date and the resultant translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a separate component of shareholders’ equity. Income and expense items are translated at average monthly rates of exchange. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions of these majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries and affiliates — that is, transactions denominated in other than their functional currency — are included in net earnings. Our unconsolidated affiliates located outside the U.S. generally use their local currencies as their functional currencies. The asset and liability accounts of those unconsolidated affiliates are translated at the rates of exchange at the balance sheet date, with the resultant translation adjustments included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) of those affiliates. Income and expense items of those affiliates are translated at average monthly rates of exchange. We record our ownership share of the net assets and accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) of our unconsolidated affiliates in our consolidated balance sheet on the lines entitled “Other long-term assets” and “Accumulated other comprehensive loss,” respectively. We record our ownership share of the net income of our unconsolidated affiliates in our consolidated income statement on the line entitled “Income from unconsolidated operations.” Use of Estimates Preparation of financial statements that follow accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and notes. Actual amounts could differ from these estimates. Cash and Cash Equivalents All highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less are classified as cash equivalents. Inventories Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined under the first-in, first-out costing method (FIFO), including the use of average costs which approximate FIFO. Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment is stated at historical cost and depreciated over its estimated useful life using the straight-line method for financial reporting and both accelerated and straight-line methods for tax reporting. The estimated useful lives range from 20 to 50 years for buildings and 3 to 12 years for machinery, equipment and other assets. Assets leased under capital leases are depreciated over the shorter of the lease term or their useful lives unless it is reasonably certain that we will obtain ownership by the end of the lease term. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Computer Software We capitalize costs of software developed or obtained for internal use. Capitalized software development costs include only (1) direct costs paid to others for materials and services to develop or buy the software, (2) payroll and payroll-related costs for employees who work directly on the software development project and (3) interest costs while developing the software. Capitalization of these costs stops when the project is substantially complete and ready for use. The net book value of capitalized software totaled $76.4 million and $43.6 million at November 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Such amounts are recorded within "Other long-term assets" in the consolidated balance sheet. Software is amortized using the straight-line method over a range of 3 to 13 years, but not exceeding the expected life of the product. The net book value of capitalized software includes $44.9 million and $9.3 million at November 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, which had not yet been placed into service and relates to our future implementation of a global enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets We review the carrying value of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets and conduct tests of impairment on an annual basis as described below. We also test goodwill for impairment if events or circumstances indicate it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is below its carrying amount and test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. Separable intangible assets that have finite useful lives are amortized over those lives. Determining the fair value of a reporting unit or an indefinite-lived purchased intangible asset is judgmental in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions include revenue growth rates and operating margins used to calculate projected future cash flows, risk-adjusted discount rates, assumed royalty rates, future economic and market conditions and determination of appropriate market comparables. We base our fair value estimates on assumptions we believe to be reasonable but that are unpredictable and inherently uncertain. Actual future results may differ from these estimates. Goodwill Impairment Our reporting units used to assess potential goodwill impairment are the same as our business segments. We calculate fair value of a reporting unit by using a discounted cash flow model and then compare that to the carrying amount of the reporting unit, including intangible assets and goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the calculated fair value, then we would determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. An impairment charge would be recognized to the extent the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value. Indefinite-lived Intangible Asset Impairment Our indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of brand names and trademarks. We primarily determine fair value by using a relief-from-royalty method and then compare that to the carrying amount of the indefinite-lived intangible asset. If the carrying amount of the indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment charge would be recorded to the extent the recorded indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds the fair value. Long-lived Asset Impairment Fixed assets and amortizable intangible assets are reviewed for impairment as events or changes in circumstances occur indicating that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. Undiscounted cash flow analyses are used to determine if an impairment exists. If an impairment is determined to exist, the loss would be calculated based on the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its estimated fair value. Revenue Recognition We manufacture, market and distribute spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products to the entire food industry—retailers, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses. We recognize sales as performance obligations are fulfilled when control passes to the customer. Revenues are recorded net of trade and sales incentives and estimated product returns. Known or expected pricing or revenue adjustments, such as trade discounts, rebates and returns, are estimated at the time of sale. Any taxes collected on behalf of government authorities are excluded from net sales. We account for product shipping and handling as fulfillment activities with costs for these activities recorded within cost of goods sold. Amounts billed and due from our customers are classified as accounts receivable on the balance sheet and require payment on a short-term basis. Our allowance for doubtful accounts represents our estimate of probable non-payments and credit losses in our existing receivables, as determined based on a review of past due balances and other specific account data. The following table sets forth our net sales by the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific (APAC) geographic regions:
(millions) | Americas | EMEA | APAC | Total
2019 |  |  |  |
Net sales | $ | 3,711.3 |  | $ | 986.1 |  | $ | 650.0 |  | $ | 5,347.4 |
2018 |  |  |  |
Net sales | $ | 3,627.5 |  | $ | 1,021.1 |  | $ | 654.2 |  | $ | 5,302.8 |
2017 |  |  |  |
Net sales | $ | 3,179.6 |  | $ | 948.9 |  | $ | 601.8 |  | $ | 4,730.3 |
Performance Obligations Our revenues primarily result from contracts or purchase orders with customers, which generally are both short-term in nature and have a single performance obligation—the delivery of our products to customers. We assess the goods and services promised in our customers’ contracts or purchase orders and identify a performance obligation for each promise to transfer a good or service (or bundle of goods or services) that is distinct. To identify the performance obligations, we consider all the goods or services promised, whether explicitly stated or implied based on customary business practices. Significant Judgments Sales are recorded net of trade and sales incentives and estimated product returns. Known or expected pricing or revenue adjustments, such as trade discounts, rebates or returns, are estimated at the time of sale. Where applicable, future reimbursements are estimated based on a combination of historical patterns and future expectations regarding these programs. Key sales terms, such as pricing and quantities ordered, are established on a frequent basis such that most customer arrangements and related incentives have a one-year or shorter duration. Estimates that affect revenue, such as trade incentives and product returns, are monitored and adjusted each period until the incentives or product returns are realized. The adjustments recognized during the year ended November 30, 2019 and 2018 resulting from updated estimates of revenue for prior year product sales were not significant. The unsettled portion remaining in accrued liabilities for these activities was $137.2 million and $142.1 million at November 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Practical Expedients We have elected the following policy elections and practical expedients with respect to revenue recognition:
• | Shipping and handling costs— We elected to account for shipping and handling activities that occur before the customer has obtained control of a good as fulfillment activities (i.e., an expense) rather than as a promised service.
• | Measurement of transaction price— We elected to exclude from the measurement of transaction price all taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected by us from a customer for sales, value added and other excise taxes.
• | Incremental cost of obtaining a contract— We elected to expense any incremental costs of obtaining a contract when the contract is for a period of one year or less.
Shipping and Handling Shipping and handling costs on our products sold to customers related to activities that occur before the customer has obtained control of a good are included in cost of goods sold in the consolidated income statement. Brand Marketing Support Total brand marketing support costs, which are included in selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated income statement, were $214.6 million, $218.7 million and $172.5 million for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Brand marketing support costs include advertising and promotions but exclude trade funds paid to customers for such activities. All trade funds paid to customers are reflected in the consolidated income statement as a reduction of net sales. Promotion costs include public relations, shopper marketing, social marketing activities, general consumer promotion activities and depreciation of assets used in these promotional activities. Advertising costs include the development, production and communication of advertisements through television, digital, print and radio. Development and production costs are expensed in the period in which the advertisement is first run. All other costs of advertising are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense was $150.8 million, $147.2 million and $117.8 million for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Research and Development Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and are included in selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated income statement. Research and development expense was $67.3 million, $69.4 million and $66.1 million for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Derivative Instruments We record all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. The fair value of derivative instruments is recorded in other current assets, other long-term assets, other accrued liabilities or other long-term liabilities. Gains and losses representing either hedge ineffectiveness, hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness, or hedges of translational exposure are recorded in the consolidated income statement in other income (expense), net or in interest expense. In the consolidated cash flow statement, settlements of cash flow and fair value hedges are classified as operating activities; settlements of all other derivative instruments, including instruments for which hedge accounting has been discontinued, are classified consistent with the nature of the instruments. Cash flow hedges. Qualifying derivatives are accounted for as cash flow hedges when the hedged item is a forecasted transaction. Gains and losses on these instruments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until the underlying transaction is recorded in earnings. When the hedged item is realized, gains or losses are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to the consolidated income statement on the same line item as the underlying transaction. Fair value hedges. Qualifying derivatives are accounted for as fair value hedges when the hedged item is a recognized asset, liability, or firm commitment. Gains and losses on these instruments are recorded in earnings, offsetting gains and losses on the hedged item. Net investment hedges. Qualifying derivative and nonderivative financial instruments are accounted for as net investment hedges when the hedged item is a nonfunctional currency investment in a subsidiary. Gains and losses on these instruments are included in foreign currency translation adjustments in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Employee Benefit and Retirement Plans We sponsor defined benefit pension plans in the U.S. and certain foreign locations. In addition, we sponsor defined contribution plans in the U.S. We contribute to defined contribution plans in locations outside the U.S., including government-sponsored retirement plans. We also currently provide postretirement medical and life insurance benefits to certain U.S. employees and retirees. During fiscal years 2018 and 2017 we made significant changes to our employee benefit and retirement plans as discussed in note 10. We recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of our defined benefit pension plans as an asset or a liability in the balance sheet, with changes in the funded status recorded through other comprehensive income in the year in which those changes occur. The expected return on plan assets is determined using the expected rate of return and a calculated value of plan assets referred to as the market-related value of plan assets. Differences between assumed and actual returns are amortized to the market-related value of assets on a straight-line basis over five years. We use the corridor approach in the valuation of defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans. The corridor approach defers all actuarial gains and losses resulting from variances between actual results and actuarial assumptions. Those unrecognized gains and losses are amortized when the net gains and losses exceed 10% of the greater of the market-related value of plan assets or the projected benefit obligation at the beginning of the year. The amount in excess of the corridor is amortized over the average remaining life expectancy of retired plan participants, for plans whose benefits have been frozen, or the average remaining service period to retirement date of active plan participants. Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in 2019 We adopted ASU No. 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (the “Revenue Recognition ASU”), ASU No. 2017-07 Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) - Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (the “Pension ASU”), and ASU No. 2017-12 Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) - Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. We elected to adopt the Revenue Recognition ASU on a full retrospective basis. We adopted the Pension ASU on a retrospective basis as required by the standard. These new accounting standards are summarized below. In May 2014, the FASB issued the Revenue Recognition ASU, which supersedes previously existing revenue recognition guidance. Under this new guidance, companies apply a principles-based five-step model to recognize revenue upon the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration for which the company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The model encompasses the following steps: (1) determination of whether a contract - an agreement between two or more parties that creates legally enforceable rights and obligations - exists; (2) identification of the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determination of the transaction price; (4) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognition of revenue when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied. The new revenue recognition guidance allows companies to account for shipping and handling activities that occur before and after the customer has obtained control of a product as fulfillment activities rather than as a promised service; and we applied this accounting policy election. In addition, the new revenue guidance requires that customer payments be accounted for as a reduction in the transaction price unless the payment to a customer is in exchange for a distinct good or service. The adoption of this standard did not have and is not expected to have an effect on the timing of our revenue recognition. There was no effect on operating income, net income, or basic and diluted earnings per share upon our adoption of the Revenue Recognition ASU in 2019. In March 2017, the FASB issued the Pension ASU. This guidance revises how employers that sponsor defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans present the net periodic benefit cost in their income statement and requires that the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost be presented in the same income statement line items as other employee compensation costs from services rendered during the period. Of the components of net periodic benefit cost, only the service cost component is eligible for asset capitalization. The other components of the net periodic benefit cost must be presented separately from the line items that include the service cost and outside of any subtotal of operating income on the income statement. The new standard was adopted as of December 1, 2018 and has been applied on a retrospective basis. Adoption of the new standard solely impacted classification within our consolidated income statement, with no change to net income or basic and diluted earnings per share. The adoption of the Revenue Recognition ASU and the Pension ASU, on a retrospective basis, impacted our previously reported results for the years ended November 30, 2018 and 2017 as follows:
| Accounting Changes
(in millions) | Previously Reported | Revenue Recognition | Pension | Recast
For the year ended November 30, 2018: |  |  |  |
Net sales | $ | 5,408.9 |  | $ | (106.1 | ) | $ | — |  | $ | 5,302.8 |
Cost of goods sold | 3,037.3 |  | 169.5 |  | 2.7 |  | 3,209.5 |
Gross profit | 2,371.6 |  | (275.6 | ) | (2.7 | ) | 2,093.3 |
Selling, general and administrative expense | 1,429.5 |  | (275.6 | ) | 9.5 |  | 1,163.4 |
Operating income | 903.3 |  | — |  | (12.2 | ) | 891.1 |
Other income, net | 12.6 |  | — |  | 12.2 |  | 24.8 |
For the year ended November 30, 2017: |  |  |  |
Net sales | $ | 4,834.1 |  | $ | (103.8 | ) | $ | — |  | $ | 4,730.3 |
Cost of goods sold | 2,823.9 |  | 111.0 |  | 1.4 |  | 2,936.3 |
Gross profit | 2,010.2 |  | (214.8 | ) | (1.4 | ) | 1,794.0 |
Selling, general and administrative expense | 1,244.8 |  | (214.8 | ) | 1.2 |  | 1,031.2 |
Operating income | 702.4 |  | — |  | (2.6 | ) | 699.8 |
Other income, net | 3.5 |  | — |  | 2.6 |  | 6.1 |
We adopted the following new accounting standards in 2019 on a prospective basis: In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12 Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815)—Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. This guidance eliminates the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and generally requires, for qualifying hedges, the entire change in the fair value of a hedging instrument to be presented in the same income statement line as the hedged item. The guidance also modifies the accounting for components excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness, eases documentation and assessment requirements and modifies certain disclosure requirements. The new standard is effective for the first quarter of our fiscal year ending November 30, 2020, with early adoption permitted in any interim period or fiscal year before the effective date. We have elected to adopt this guidance effective December 1, 2018. There was no material impact to our financial statements upon adoption. In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16 Accounting for Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Asset Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory. The ASU eliminates the deferral of the tax effects of intra-entity asset transfers other than inventory. As a result, the tax expense from the intercompany sale of assets, other than inventory, and associated changes to deferred taxes will be recognized when the sale occurs even though the pre-tax effects of the transaction have not been recognized. This new standard was effective beginning in fiscal year 2019 and was required to be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the first day of fiscal year 2019. There was no cumulative-effect adjustment upon adoption. During the year ended November 30, 2019, we recognized a discrete tax benefit of $15.2 million under the provisions of this standard. The on-going effect of the adoption of the standard will depend on the nature and amount of future transactions. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01 Business Combinations (Topic 805)—Clarifying the Definition of a Business. This guidance changes the definition of a business to assist entities in evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities constitutes a business. The guidance requires an entity to evaluate if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets; if so, the set of transferred assets and activities is not a business. The guidance also requires a business to include at least one substantive process and narrows the definition of outputs by more closely aligning it with how outputs are described in the Revenue Recognition ASU. The new standard was effective beginning in fiscal year 2019. There was no material impact to our financial statements upon adoption. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15 Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Services Contract. The ASU aligns the requirement for capitalization of implementation costs incurred in a cloud hosting arrangement with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal use software. The new standard is effective for the first quarter of our fiscal year ending November 30, 2021, with early adoption permitted in any interim period or fiscal year before the effective date. We have elected to adopt this guidance effective December 1, 2018. In conjunction with the adoption of this ASU, we classify capitalized software within other long-term assets and have reclassified prior periods for consistent presentation. Previously, we classified capitalized software within property, plant and equipment. In August 2018, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") adopted the final rule under SEC Release No. 33-10532 Disclosure Update and Simplification, to eliminate or modify certain disclosure rules that are redundant, outdated, or duplicative of U.S. GAAP or other regulatory requirements. Among other changes, the amendments eliminated the annual requirement to disclose the high and low trading prices of our common stock. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements — Pending Adoption In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 Leases (Topic 842). This guidance revises existing practice related to accounting for leases under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 840 Leases (ASC 840) for both lessees and lessors. Our leases principally relate to: (i) certain real estate, including that related to a number of administrative, distribution and manufacturing locations; (ii) certain machinery and equipment, including forklifts; and (iii) certain automobiles, delivery and other vehicles, including an airplane. The new guidance in ASU No. 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for virtually all leases (other than leases that meet the definition of a short-term lease). The lease liability will be equal to the present value of lease payments and the right-of-use asset will be based on the lease liability, subject to adjustment such as for initial direct costs. For income statement purposes, the new standard retains a dual model similar to ASC 840, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance. For lessees, operating leases will result in straight-line expense (similar to current accounting by lessees for operating leases under ASC 840) while finance leases will result in a front-loaded expense pattern (similar to current accounting by lessees for capital leases under ASC 840). In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11 Leases (Topic 842) Targeted Improvements which provides a modified retrospective transition method that allows entities to initially apply the new standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption without restating prior periods. We will adopt the standard using a modified retrospective approach as of December 1, 2019, the first day of our fiscal year 2020. We will elect the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, which among other things, allows us to retain the historical lease classification. In addition, we will elect to combine the lease and non-lease components for all asset categories other than real estate. We will also make an accounting policy election to exclude from balance sheet reporting those leases with initial terms of 12 months or less (short-term leases). We estimate that adoption of the standard will result in recognition of operating lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities of approximately $135 million and $140 million, respectively, with the difference largely due to deferred rent that will be reclassified to the right-of-use asset value. We do not expect adoption of the standard to materially affect our consolidated net income or cash flows. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04 Intangibles—Goodwill and Other Topics (Topic 350)—Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This guidance eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill of a reporting unit to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Instead, a company will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit's carrying amount over its fair value. The new standard will be effective for the first quarter of our fiscal year ending November 30, 2021. Early adoption is permitted for all entities for annual and interim goodwill impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017. We currently do not expect this guidance to have a material impact on our financial statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13 Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which institutes a new model for recognizing credit losses on financial instruments that are not measured at fair value. The new standard is effective for the first quarter of our fiscal year ending November 30, 2021, and we anticipate that it will primarily impact our credit losses recognized for trade accounts receivable. While we are currently evaluating the effect that ASU No. 2016-13 will have on our consolidated financial statements, we do not expect this guidance to have a material impact.

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