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Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)
 12 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2011
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies  
Nature Of Operations

Nature of Operations — Thor Industries, Inc. was founded in 1980 and, together with its subsidiaries (the "Company"), manufactures a wide range of recreation vehicles and small and mid-size buses at various manufacturing facilities across the United States. These products are sold to independent dealers and municipalities primarily throughout the United States and Canada. Unless the context otherwise requires or indicates, all references to "Thor", the "Company", "we", "our" and "us" refer to Thor Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

The Company's core business activities are comprised of three distinct operations, which include the design, manufacture and sale of motorized recreation vehicles, towable recreation vehicles and buses. Accordingly, the Company has presented segmented financial information for these three segments at Note L of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Certain amounts for 2010 have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. Specifically, current and long-term deferred income taxes, which were previously included with prepaid expenses and other long-term assets, respectively, are presented separately in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Principles Of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation — The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Thor Industries, Inc. and its wholly-owned domestic and foreign subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated upon consolidation.

Cash And Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents — Interest-bearing deposits and other investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased are considered cash equivalents. At July 31, 2011 and 2010, cash and cash equivalents of $181,012 and $162,888, respectively, were held by one financial institution. The remaining $34,423 and $84,863 at July 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, were held at various other financial institutions.

Investments

Investments — The Company classifies investments as available-for-sale or trading.

Fair Value Of Financial Investments

Fair Value of Financial Investments — The carrying amount of cash equivalents, investments, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the relatively short maturity of these financial instruments.

Inventories

Inventories — Substantially all inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, determined on the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") basis. Manufacturing costs include materials, labor, freight-out and manufacturing overhead. Unallocated overhead and abnormal costs are expensed as incurred.
Depreciation

Depreciation — Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

Buildings and improvements — 10 to 39 years

Machinery and equipment — 3 to 10 years

Depreciation expense is recorded in cost of products sold except for $3,022, $2,545 and $1,728 in fiscal 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, which is recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses.
Other Assets

Other Assets — Other assets consist of goodwill, trademarks, dealer networks, technology assets, non-compete agreements, long-term investments and notes receivables. Trademarks are being amortized on a straight-line basis over 20 to 25 years. Dealer networks are primarily amortized on an accelerated cash flow basis, and technology assets and non-compete agreements are amortized using the straight-line method over 5 to 15 years. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested at least annually for impairment.

Long-Lived Assets Long-lived Assets Long-lived assets and identifiable intangibles that are amortized are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable from future cash flows. If the carrying value of a long-lived asset is impaired, an impairment charge is recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds its fair value.
Product Warranties

Product Warranties — Estimated warranty costs are provided at the time of sale of the warranted products. Warranty reserves are reviewed and adjusted as necessary on a quarterly basis.

Allowance For Doubtful Accounts

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts — A summary of allowance for doubtful accounts activity is as follows:

 

     Year Ended  
July 31, 2011		    Year Ended  
July 31, 2010		      Year Ended  
July 31, 2009		  

Beginning Balance

     $        422       $        302          $        295   

Net charged to expense

    3      195         326   

Write-offs net of recoveries/payments

    (116)      (75)         (319)   

Heartland acquisition

               240                     –                        –   

Ending Balance

     $        549       $        422          $        302   
Insurance Reserves

Insurance Reserves — Generally, we are self-insured for workers' compensation, products liability and group medical insurance. Under these plans, liabilities are recognized for claims incurred, including those incurred but not reported. The liability for workers' compensation claims is determined by the Company with the assistance of a third party administrator and actuary using various state statutes and historical claims experience. Group medical reserves are estimated using historical claims experience. We have a self-insured retention for products liability and personal injury matters of $5,000 per occurrence. We have established a liability on our balance sheet for such occurrences based on historical data, known cases and actuarial information. Currently, we maintain excess liability insurance aggregating $50,000 with outside insurance carriers to minimize our risks related to catastrophic claims in excess of all our self-insured positions for products liability and personal injury matters
Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition – Revenues from the sale of recreation vehicles and buses are recognized when title passes, which is when shipped to dealers, distributors or contract buyers in accordance with shipping terms, which are primarily FOB shipping point.

Revenues from the sale of recreation vehicles and buses are recorded when all of the following conditions have been met:

1)    An order for a product has been received from a dealer;

2)    Written or oral approval for payment has been received from the dealer's flooring institution;

3)    A common carrier signs the delivery ticket accepting responsibility for the product as agent for the dealer; and

4)    The product is removed from the Company's property for delivery to the dealer who placed the order.

Certain shipments are sold to customers on credit or cash on delivery ("COD") terms. The Company recognizes revenue on credit sales upon shipment and COD sales upon payment and delivery. Most sales are made by dealers financing their purchases under flooring arrangements with banks or finance companies. Products are not sold on consignment, dealers do not have the right to return products and dealers are typically responsible for interest costs to floor plan lenders. On average, the Company receives payments from floor plan lenders on products sold to dealers within 15 days of the invoice date.

Amounts billed to dealers for delivery of product are recognized as revenue with the corresponding delivery expense charged to costs of products sold.
Dealer Volume Rebates, Sales Incentives And Advertising Costs

Dealer Volume Rebates, Sales Incentives and Advertising Costs – Estimated costs related to dealer volume rebates and sales incentives are accrued as a reduction of revenue at the later of the time products are sold or the date the rebate or incentive is offered. Advertising costs, which consist primarily of tradeshows, were $7,149, $5,377 and $5,770 in fiscal 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Repurchase Agreements

Repurchase Agreements - The Company is contingently liable under terms of repurchase agreements with financial institutions providing inventory financing for certain dealers of certain of its products. These arrangements, which are customary in the industry, provide for the repurchase of products sold to dealers in the event of default by the dealer. The risk of loss from these agreements is spread over numerous dealers. The repurchase price is generally determined by the original sales price of the product and pre-defined curtailment arrangements and the Company typically resells the repurchased product at a discount from its repurchase price. The Company accounts for the guarantee under its repurchase agreements of its dealers' financing by estimating and deferring a portion of the related product sale that represents the estimated fair value of the repurchase obligation. This deferred amount is included in the Company's repurchase and guarantee reserve. Additionally, the repurchase and guarantee reserve includes the Company's estimated loss upon resale of expected repurchases. This estimate is based on recent historical experience supplemented by management's assessment of current economic and other conditions affecting its dealers.

Estimates

Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Key estimates include reserves for inventory, incurred but not reported medical claims, warranty claims, recalls, workers' compensation claims, vehicle repurchases, uncertain tax positions, product and non-product litigation, fair value of auction rate securities and assumptions made in the impairment assessments. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Company believes that such estimates are made using consistent and appropriate methods. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes – The Company accounts for income taxes under the provisions of ASC 740, "Income Taxes". The objectives of accounting for income taxes are to recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company's financial statements or tax returns. Judgment is required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company's financial statements or tax returns.

Foreign Currency

Foreign Currency – Assets and liabilities of the Company's Canadian operations (which ceased operations in fiscal 2010) reported in the consolidated balance sheets have been translated at current exchange rates. Revenues and expenses reported in the consolidated statements of income for fiscal 2010 and prior have been translated at the average exchange rate for the year. Translation adjustments have been included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Transaction gains and losses are not significant.

Stock Options

Stock Options – The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the grant date fair value of its option grants. The fair value and related compensation costs are recognized over the option vesting period which is 3 to 5 years.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share – Basic earnings per common share ("EPS") is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding assuming dilution. The difference between basic EPS and diluted EPS is the result of outstanding stock options and restricted stock.

 

     2011      2010      2009  

Weighted average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share

      55,271,340         53,019,008         55,429,373   

Stock options and restricted stock

            102,301               100,356                 47,097   

Weighted average shares outstanding assuming dilution

       55,373,641          53,119,364          55,476,470   

The Company excludes stock options that have an antidilutive effect from its calculation of weighted average shares outstanding assuming dilution. At July 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 the Company had stock options outstanding of 729,826, 784,000 and 404,061 respectively, that were excluded from this calculation.