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Use of Estimates | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
Use of Estimates |
Use of Estimates | (2) Use of Estimates The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues (e.g., our percentage-of-completion estimates described above) and expenses during the reporting period. We evaluate these estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis and base our estimates on experience, current and expected future conditions, third-party evaluations and various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. The results of these estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities as well as identifying and assessing the accounting treatment with respect to commitments and contingencies. Actual results may differ from the estimates and assumptions used in the consolidated financial statements and related notes. Listed below are certain significant estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. Certain other estimates and assumptions are further explained in the related notes. Accounts Receivable Allowances — We provide allowances for estimated losses on uncollectible accounts based on our historical experience and the evaluation of the likelihood of success in collecting specific customer receivables. In addition, we maintain allowances for customer returns, discounts and invoice pricing discrepancies, with such allowances primarily based on historical experience. Summarized below is the activity for these allowance accounts.
|  | Year ended December 31, |
|  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012 |
Balance at beginning of year |  | $ | 46.4 |  | $ | 50.2 |  | $ | 40.8 |
Allowances provided |  |  | 30.9 |  |  | 23.8 |  |  | 27.9 |
Write-offs, net of recoveries, credits issued and other |  |  | (40.5 | ) |  | (27.6 | ) |  | (18.5 | )
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Balance at end of year |  | $ | 36.8 |  | $ | 46.4 |  | $ | 50.2 |
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Inventory — We estimate losses for excess and/or obsolete inventory and the net realizable value of inventory based on the aging and historical utilization of the inventory and the evaluation of the likelihood of recovering the inventory costs based on anticipated demand and selling price. Long-Lived Assets and Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization — We continually review whether events and circumstances subsequent to the acquisition of any long-lived assets, or intangible assets subject to amortization, have occurred that indicate the remaining estimated useful lives of those assets may warrant revision or that the remaining balance of those assets may not be fully recoverable. If events and circumstances indicate that the long-lived assets should be reviewed for possible impairment, we use projections to assess whether future cash flows on an undiscounted basis related to the assets are likely to exceed the related carrying amount. We will record an impairment charge to the extent that the carrying value of the assets exceed their fair values as determined by valuation techniques appropriate in the circumstances, which could include the use of similar projections on a discounted basis. In determining the estimated useful lives of definite-lived intangibles, we consider the nature, competitive position, life cycle position, and historical and expected future operating cash flows of each acquired asset, as well as our commitment to support these assets through continued investment and legal infringement protection. Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets — We test goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually during the fourth quarter and continually assess whether a triggering event has occurred to determine whether the carrying value exceeds the implied fair value. The fair value of reporting units is based generally on discounted projected cash flows, but we also consider factors such as comparable industry price multiples. We employ cash flow projections that we believe to be reasonable under current and forecasted circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of the reported net assets of our reporting units. Many of our businesses closely follow changes in the industries and end markets that they serve. Accordingly, we consider estimates and judgments that affect the future cash flow projections, including principal methods of competition, such as volume, price, service, product performance and technical innovations, as well as estimates associated with cost reduction initiatives, capacity utilization and assumptions for inflation and foreign currency changes. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. See Note 8 for further information, including discussion of impairment charges recorded in 2014, 2013 and 2012. Accrued Expenses — We make estimates and judgments in establishing accruals as required under GAAP. Summarized in the table below are the components of accrued expenses at December 31, 2014 and 2013.
|  | December 31, |
|  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Employee benefits |  | $ | 219.6 |  | $ | 215.3 |
Unearned revenue(1) |  |  | 375.4 |  |  | 460.9 |
Warranty |  |  | 38.3 |  |  | 42.4 |
Other(2) |  |  | 259.0 |  |  | 272.2 |
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Total |  | $ | 892.3 |  | $ | 990.8 |
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(1) | Unearned revenue includes billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts accounted for under the percentage-of-completion method of revenue recognition, customer deposits and unearned amounts on service contracts.
(2) | Other consists of various items including, among other items, accrued legal costs, interest, restructuring costs and dividends payable, none of which is individually material.
Legal — It is our policy to accrue for estimated losses from legal actions or claims when events exist that make the realization of the losses probable and they can be reasonably estimated. We do not discount legal obligations or reduce them by anticipated insurance recoveries. Environmental Remediation Costs — We expense costs incurred to investigate and remediate environmental issues unless they extend the economic useful lives of related assets. We record liabilities when it is probable that an obligation has been incurred and the amounts can be reasonably estimated. Our environmental accruals cover anticipated costs, including investigation, remediation and operation and maintenance of clean-up sites. Our estimates are based primarily on investigations and remediation plans established by independent consultants, regulatory agencies and potentially responsible third parties. We generally do not discount environmental obligations or reduce them by anticipated insurance recoveries. Self-Insurance — We are self-insured for certain of our workers' compensation, automobile, product, general liability, disability and health costs, and we maintain adequate accruals to cover our retained liabilities. Our accruals for self-insurance liabilities are based on claims filed and an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported, and generally are not discounted. We consider a number of factors, including third-party actuarial valuations, when making these determinations. We maintain third-party stop-loss insurance policies to cover certain liability costs in excess of predetermined retained amounts; however, this insurance may be insufficient or unavailable (e.g., because of insurer insolvency) to protect us against potential loss exposures. The key assumptions considered in estimating the ultimate cost to settle reported claims and the estimated costs associated with incurred but not yet reported claims include, among other things, our historical and industry claims experience, trends in health care and administrative costs, our current and future risk management programs, and historical lag studies with regard to the timing between when a claim is incurred and reported. Warranty — In the normal course of business, we issue product warranties for specific products and provide for the estimated future warranty cost in the period in which the sale is recorded. We provide for the estimate of warranty cost based on contract terms and historical warranty loss experience that is periodically adjusted for recent actual experience. Because warranty estimates are forecasts that are based on the best available information, claims costs may differ from amounts provided. In addition, due to the seasonal fluctuations at certain of our businesses, the timing of warranty provisions and the usage of warranty accruals can vary period to period. We make adjustments to initial obligations for warranties as changes in the obligations become reasonably estimable. The following is an analysis of our product warranty accrual for the periods presented:
|  | Year ended December 31, |
|  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012 |
Balance at beginning of year |  | $ | 55.1 |  | $ | 60.0 |  | $ | 55.9 |
Acquisition |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3.7 |
Provisions |  |  | 34.9 |  |  | 31.4 |  |  | 24.9 |
Usage |  |  | (32.0 | ) |  | (36.4 | ) |  | (25.0 | )
Currency translation adjustment |  |  | (2.0 | ) |  | 0.1 |  |  | 0.5 |
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Balance at end of year |  |  | 56.0 |  |  | 55.1 |  |  | 60.0 |
Less: Current portion of warranty |  |  | 38.3 |  |  | 42.4 |  |  | 49.9 |
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Non-current portion of warranty |  | $ | 17.7 |  | $ | 12.7 |  | $ | 10.1 |
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Income Taxes — We perform reviews of our income tax positions on a continuous basis and accrue for potential uncertain tax positions in accordance with the Income Taxes Topic of the Codification. Accruals for these uncertain tax positions are classified as "Income taxes payable" and "Deferred and other income taxes" in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets based on an expectation as to the timing of when the matter will be resolved. As events change or resolutions occur, these accruals are adjusted, such as in the case of audit settlements with taxing authorities. For tax positions where it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will be sustained, we record the largest amount of tax benefit with a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority, assuming such authority has full knowledge of all relevant information. These reviews also entail analyzing the realization of deferred tax assets. When we believe that it is more likely than not that we will not realize a benefit for a deferred tax asset based on all available evidence, we establish a valuation allowance against it. Employee Benefit Plans — Defined benefit plans cover a portion of our salaried and hourly employees, including certain employees in foreign countries. As discussed in Note 1, we recognize changes in the fair value of plan assets and actuarial gains and losses associated with our pension and postretirement benefit plans in earnings during the fourth quarter of each year, unless earlier remeasurement is required, as a component of net periodic benefit expense. The remaining components of pension/postretirement expense, primarily service and interest costs and expected return on plan assets, are recorded on a quarterly basis. See Note 10 for further discussion of our pension and postretirement benefits. We derive pension expense from an actuarial calculation based on the defined benefit plans' provisions and our assumptions regarding discount rate and rate of increase in compensation levels. We determine the discount rate for our more significant U.S. plans by matching the expected projected benefit obligation cash flows of the plans to a yield curve that is representative of long-term, high-quality (rated AA or higher) fixed income debt instruments as of the measurement date. For our other plans, we determine the discount rate based on representative bond indices. The rate of increase in compensation levels is established based on our expectations of current and foreseeable future increases in compensation. We also consult with independent actuaries in determining these assumptions.

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- Definition Provides an entity's explanation that the preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the use of management estimates. Estimates used in the determination of carrying amounts of assets or liabilities, or in disclosure of gain or loss contingencies should be disclosed if known information available prior to issuance of the financial statements indicates that both of these criteria are met: (1) It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect on the financial statements of a condition, situation, or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements will change in the near term (less than one year from the date of issuance) due to one or more future confirming events, and (2) The effect of the change would be material to the financial statements. The disclosure should indicate the nature of the uncertainty and include an indication that it is at least reasonably possible that a change in the estimate will occur in the near term. Disclosure of the factors that cause the estimate to be sensitive to change also is encouraged. Entities also may identify those areas that are subject to significant estimates. + References No definition available. + Details
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