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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
(1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Valmont Industries, Inc. and its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries (the Company). Investments in 20% to 50% owned affiliates are accounted for by the equity method and investments in less than 20% owned affiliates are accounted for by the cost method. All significant intercompany items have been eliminated. Cash overdrafts Cash book overdrafts totaling $21,214 and $11,952 were classified as accounts payable at December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010, respectively. The Company's policy is to report the change in book overdrafts as an operating activity in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Operating Segments The Company aggregates its operating segments into four reportable segments. Aggregation is based on similarity of operating segments as to economic characteristics, products, production processes, types or classes of customer and the methods of distribution. Reportable segments are as follows: ENGINEERED INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS: This segment consists of the manufacture of engineered metal structures and components for the global lighting and traffic, wireless communication, roadway safety and access systems applications; UTILITY SUPPORT STRUCTURES: This segment consists of the manufacture of engineered steel and concrete structures for the global utility industry; COATINGS: This segment consists of galvanizing, anodizing and powder coating services on a global basis; and IRRIGATION: This segment consists of the manufacture of agricultural irrigation equipment and related parts and services for the global agricultural industry. In addition to these four reportable segments, there are other businesses and activities that individually are not more than 10% of consolidated sales. These operations include the manufacture of forged steel grinding media for the mining industry, tubular products for industrial customers, electrolytic manganese dioxide for disposable batteries and the distribution of industrial fasteners. These operations collectively are reported in the "Other" category. Fiscal Year The Company operates on a 52 or 53 week fiscal year with each year ending on the last Saturday in December. Accordingly, the Company's fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 consisted of 53 weeks. The Company's fiscal years ended December 25, 2010 and December 26, 2009 consisted of 52 weeks. The estimated impact on the company's results of operations due to the extra week in fiscal 2011 was additional net sales of approximately $50,000 and additional net earnings of approximately $3,000. Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable are reported on the balance sheet net of any allowance for doubtful accounts. Allowances are maintained in amounts considered to be appropriate in relation to the outstanding receivables based on age of the receivable, economic conditions and customer credit quality. Inventories Approximately 40% and 32% of inventory is valued at the lower of cost, determined on the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method, or market as of December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010, respectively. All other inventory is valued at the lower of cost, determined on the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method or market. Finished goods and manufactured goods inventories include the costs of acquired raw materials and related factory labor and overhead charges required to convert raw materials to manufactured and finished goods. The excess of replacement cost of inventories over the LIFO value is approximately $49,536 and $42,559 at December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010, respectively. Long-Lived Assets Property, plant and equipment are recorded at historical cost. The Company generally uses the straight-line method in computing depreciation and amortization for financial reporting purposes and accelerated methods for income tax purposes. The annual provisions for depreciation and amortization have been computed principally in accordance with the following ranges of asset lives: buildings and improvements 15 to 40 years, machinery and equipment 3 to 12 years, transportation equipment 3 to 24 years, office furniture and equipment 3 to 7 years and intangible assets 5 to 20 years. An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable and exceeds estimated future undiscounted cash flows of the asset. A recognized impairment loss reduces the carrying amount of the asset to its fair value. The Company evaluates its reporting units for impairment of goodwill during the third fiscal quarter of each year. Reporting units are evaluated using after-tax operating cash flows (less capital expenditures) discounted to present value. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are assessed separately from goodwill as part of the annual impairment testing, using a relief-from-royalty method. If the underlying assumptions related to the valuation of a reporting unit's goodwill or an indefinite-lived intangible asset change materially before the annual impairment testing, the reporting unit or asset is evaluated for potential impairment. In these evaluations, management considers not only recent operating performance, expected future performance, industry conditions and other indicators of potential impairment. In fiscal 2011, upon evaluation of future uses of its trade names, the Company recorded impairment in the aggregate of $3,779 in selling, general and administrative expenses. Income Taxes The Company uses the asset and liability method to calculate deferred income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized on temporary differences between financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates. The effect of tax rate changes on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income during the period that includes the enactment date. Warranties The Company's provision for product warranty reflects management's best estimate of probable liability under its product warranties. Estimated future warranty costs are recorded at the time a sale is recognized. Future warranty liability is determined based on applying historical claim rate experience to units sold that are still within the warranty period. In addition, the Company records provisions for known warranty claims. Pension Benefits Certain expenses are incurred in connection with a defined benefit pension plan. In order to measure expense and the related benefit obligation, various assumptions are made including discount rates used to value the obligation, expected return on plan assets used to fund these expenses and estimated future inflation rates. These assumptions are based on historical experience as well as current facts and circumstances. An actuarial analysis is used to measure the expense and liability associated with pension benefits. Derivative Instrument In connection with the issuance of the $150,000 principal amount of senior notes in June 2011, the Company executed a contract to lock in the treasury rate. The contract, for a notional amount of $130,000, was executed to hedge the risk of potential fluctuations in the treasury rates which would change the amount of net proceeds received from the debt offering. As the benchmark rate component of the fixed rate debt issuance and the cash flow hedged risk is based on that same benchmark, this was deemed an effective hedge at inception. On June 8, 2011, this contract was settled with the Company paying approximately $3,568 to the counterparty. As such, the Company recorded the $3,568 in accumulated other comprehensive income and will amortize this loss to interest expense as interest payments are made over the term of the debt. Comprehensive Income Comprehensive income includes net income, currency translation adjustments, certain derivative-related activity and changes in net actuarial gains/losses from a pension plan. Results of operations for foreign subsidiaries are translated using the average exchange rates during the period. Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rates in effect on the balance sheet dates. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consisted of the following at December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010:
|  | December 31, 2011 |  | December 25, 2010 |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Foreign currency translation adjustment |  | $ | 16,070 |  | $ | 34,693 |
Actuarial gain in defined benefit pension plan |  |  | 51,317 |  |  | 28,952 |
Loss on cash flow hedge |  |  | (3,335 | ) |  | — |
|  | $ | 64,052 |  | $ | 63,645 |
Revenue Recognition Revenue is recognized upon shipment of the product or delivery of the service to the customer, which coincides with passage of title and risk of loss to the customer. Customer acceptance provisions exist only in the design stage of our products. Acceptance of the design by the customer is required before the product is manufactured and delivered to the customer. We are not entitled to any compensation solely based on design of the product and we do not recognize any revenue associated with the design stage. No general rights of return exist for customers once the product has been delivered. Shipping and handling costs associated with sales are recorded as cost of goods sold. Sales discounts and rebates are estimated based on past experience and are recorded as a reduction of net sales in the period in which the sale is recognized. Service revenues predominantly consist of coatings services provided by our Coatings segment to its customers. Use of Estimates Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Equity Method Investments The Company has equity method investments in non-consolidated subsidiaries which are recorded within other assets. In fiscal 2010, the Company received dividends of $10,125 from non-consolidated subsidiaries, which reduced the investments in these non-consolidated subsidiaries. Treasury Stock Repurchased shares are recorded as "Treasury Stock" and result in a reduction of "Shareholders' Equity." When treasury shares are reissued, the Company uses the last-in, first-out method, and the difference between the repurchase cost and reissuance price is charged or credited to "Additional Paid-In Capital." Research and Development Research and development costs are charged to operations in the year incurred. These costs are a component of "Selling, general and administrative expenses" on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Research and development expenses were approximately $6,200 in 2011, $5,500 in 2010, and $6,200 in 2009. Subsequent Events The Company has evaluated all subsequent events requiring recognition as of December 31, 2011 and did not identify any subsequent events that require disclosure. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In September 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011- 08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment, permitting an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test described in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 350. This guidance will become effective for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company will adopt this starting in fiscal 2012 and it is not expected to have a significant effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18743-107790 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18854-107790 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 22 -Paragraph 8 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18861-107790 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18726-107790 + Details
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