Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation: The accompanying financial statements comprise the consolidated financial statements of L-3 Holdings and L-3 Communications. L-3 Holdings’ only asset is its investment in the common stock of L-3 Communications, its wholly-owned subsidiary, and its only obligations are: (1) the 3% Convertible Contingent Debt Securities (CODES) due 2035, which were issued by L-3 Holdings on July 29, 2005, (2) its guarantee of borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility of L-3 Communications and (3) its guarantee of other contractual obligations of L-3 Communications and its subsidiaries. L-3 Holdings’ obligations relating to the CODES have been jointly, severally, fully and unconditionally guaranteed by L-3 Communications and certain of its wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries. Accordingly, such debt has been reflected as debt of L-3 Communications in its consolidated financial statements in accordance with the accounting standards for pushdown accounting. All issuances of and conversions into L-3 Holdings’ equity securities, including grants of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance units by L-3 Holdings to employees and directors of L-3 Communications and its subsidiaries, have been reflected in the consolidated financial statements of L-3 Communications. As a result, the consolidated financial positions, results of operations and cash flows of L-3 Holdings and L-3 Communications are substantially the same. See Note 25 for additional information regarding the audited financial information of L-3 Communications and its subsidiaries.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of sales and costs of sales during the reporting period. The most significant of these estimates and assumptions relate to contract revenue, profit and loss recognition, fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, market values for inventories reported at lower of cost or market, pension and post-retirement benefit obligations, stock-based employee compensation expense, income taxes, including the valuations of deferred tax assets, litigation reserves and environmental obligations, accrued product warranty costs, and the recoverability, useful lives and valuation of recorded amounts of long-lived assets, identifiable intangible assets and goodwill. Changes in estimates are reflected in the periods during which they become known. Actual amounts will differ from these estimates and could differ materially.

Due to re-alignments in the Company’s management and organizational structure during the quarter ended April 1, 2011, the Company made certain reclassifications among its C ³ISR, Government Services and Electronic Systems reportable segments. The segment results presented in this annual report reflect these reclassifications. See Note 22 for the amount of prior period sales, operating income, and assets reclassified between segments.

Certain other reclassifications have been made to conform prior-year amounts to the current-year presentation.

Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements of the Company include all wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in equity securities, joint ventures and limited liability corporations over which the Company has significant influence but does not have voting control are accounted for using the equity method. Investments over which the Company does not have significant influence are accounted for using the cost method.

Revenue Recognition: Substantially all of the Company’s sales are generated from written contractual (revenue) arrangements. The sales price for the Company’s revenue arrangements are either fixed price, cost-plus or time-and-material type. Depending on the contractual scope of work, the Company utilizes either contract accounting standards or accounting standards for revenue arrangements with commercial customers to account for these contracts. Approximately 40% of the Company’s 2011 sales were accounted for under contract accounting standards, including approximately 30% from fixed-price type contracts and approximately 10% from cost-plus type contracts. For contracts that are accounted for under contract accounting standards, sales and profits are recognized based on: (1) a Percentage-of-Completion (POC) method of accounting (fixed-price contracts), (2) allowable costs incurred plus the estimated profit on those costs (cost-plus contracts), or (3) direct labor hours expended multiplied by the contractual fixed rate per hour plus incurred costs for material (time-and-material contracts).

Sales and profits on fixed-price type contracts that are covered by contract accounting standards are substantially recognized using POC methods of accounting. Sales and profits on fixed-price production contracts under which units are produced and delivered in a continuous or sequential process are recorded as units are delivered based on their contractual selling prices (the “units-of-delivery” method). Sales and profits on each fixed-price production contract under which units are not produced and delivered in a continuous or sequential process, or under which a relatively few number of units are produced, are recorded based on the ratio of actual cumulative costs incurred to the total estimated costs at completion of the contract, multiplied by the total estimated contract revenue, less cumulative sales recognized in prior periods (the “cost-to-cost” method). Under both POC methods of accounting, a single estimated total profit margin is used to recognize profit for each contract over its entire period of performance, which can exceed one year. Losses on contracts are recognized in the period in which they become evident. The impact of revisions of contract estimates, which may result from contract modifications, performance or other reasons, are recognized on a cumulative catch-up basis in the period in which the revisions are made.

Sales and profits on cost-plus type contracts that are covered by contract accounting standards are recognized as allowable costs are incurred on the contract, at an amount equal to the allowable costs plus the estimated profit on those costs. The estimated profit on a cost-plus type contract is fixed or variable based on the contractual fee arrangement. Incentive and award fees are the primary variable fee contractual arrangements. Incentive and award fees on cost-plus type contracts are included as an element of total estimated contract revenues and are recorded to sales when a basis exists for the reasonable prediction of performance in relation to established contractual targets and the Company is able to make reasonably dependable estimates for them.

Sales and profits on time-and-material type contracts are recognized on the basis of direct labor hours expended multiplied by the contractual fixed rate per hour, plus the actual costs of materials and other direct non-labor costs.

Sales on arrangements for (1) fixed-price type contracts that require us to perform services that are not related to the production of tangible assets (Fixed-Price Service Contracts) and (2) certain commercial customers are recognized in accordance with accounting standards for revenue arrangements with commercial customers. Sales for the Company’s businesses whose customers are primarily commercial business enterprises are substantially all generated from single element revenue arrangements. Sales are recognized when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, delivery has occurred or services have been performed, the selling price to the buyer is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Sales for Fixed-Price Service Contracts that do not contain measurable units of work performed are generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the contractual service period, unless evidence suggests that the revenue is earned, or obligations fulfilled, in a different manner. Sales for Fixed-Price Service Contracts that contain measurable units of work performed are generally recognized when the units of work are completed. Sales and profit on cost-plus and time-and-material type contracts to perform services are recognized in the same manner as those within the scope of contract accounting standards, except for incentive and award fees. Cost-based incentive fees are recognized when they are realizable in the amount that would be due under the contractual termination provisions as if the contract was terminated. Performance based incentive fees and award fees are recorded as sales when awarded by the customer.

For contracts with multiple deliverables, the Company applies the separation and allocation guidance under the accounting standard for revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables, unless all the deliverables are covered by contract accounting standards, in which case the Company applies the separation and allocation guidance under contract accounting standards. Revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables are evaluated to determine if the deliverables should be separated into more than one unit of accounting. The Company recognizes revenue for each unit of accounting based on the revenue recognition policies discussed above.

Sales and profit in connection with contracts to provide services to the U.S. Government that contain collection risk because the contracts are incrementally funded and subject to the availability of funds appropriated, are deferred until a contract modification is obtained, indicating that adequate funds are available to the contract or task order.

Research and Development: Independent research and development (IRAD) costs sponsored by the Company and bid and proposal (B&P) costs relate to both U.S. Government contracts and those for commercial and international customers. The IRAD and B&P costs for certain of the Company’s businesses that are U.S. Government contractors are recoverable indirect contract costs that are allocated to U.S. Government contracts in accordance with U.S. Government procurement regulations, and are specifically excluded from research and development accounting standards. The Company includes the recoverable IRAD and B&P costs allocated to U.S. Government contracts in inventoried contract costs, and charges them to costs of sales when the related contract sales are recognized as revenue. Research and development costs that are not recoverable on U.S. Government contracts are accounted for in accordance with research and development accounting standards and are expensed as incurred to cost of sales.

Customer-funded research and development costs are incurred pursuant to contracts (revenue arrangements) to perform research and development activities according to customer specifications. These costs are not accounted for as research and development expenses, and are also not indirect contract costs. Instead, these costs are direct contract costs and are expensed to cost of sales when the corresponding revenue is recognized, which is generally as the research and development services are performed. Customer-funded research and development costs are substantially all incurred under cost-plus type contracts with the U.S. Government.

Product Warranties: Product warranty costs are accrued when revenue is recognized for the covered products. Product warranty expense is recognized based on the terms of the product warranty and the related estimated costs. Accrued warranty costs are reduced as product warranty costs are incurred.

The table below presents the changes in the Company’s accrued product warranty costs.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2011			2010
	(in millions)
Accrued product warranty costs (1):
Balance at January 1	$	92		$	99
Acquisitions during this period		—			1
Accruals for product warranties issued during the period		77			62
Changes to accruals for product warranties existing before January 1		2			4
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(1	)		(1	)
Settlements made during the period		(76	)		(73	)
Balance at December 31	$	94		$	92

⁽¹⁾  Warranty obligations incurred in connection with long-term production contracts that are accounted for under the POC cost-to-cost method are included within the contract estimates at completion and are excluded from the above amounts. The balances above include both the current and non-current amounts.

Deferred Debt Issue Costs: Costs to issue debt are capitalized and deferred when incurred, and subsequently amortized to interest expense over the term of the related debt using the effective interest rate method.

Stock-Based Compensation: The Company follows the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation, which requires the Company to expense all stock-based employee compensation. Stock-based employee compensation is primarily a non-cash expense because the Company settles these obligations by issuing shares of L-3 Holdings common stock instead of settling such obligations with cash payments, except for certain performance unit awards that are payable in cash.

Compensation expense for all restricted stock unit and stock option awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award based on the grant date fair value. All of the stock options granted to employees by the Company are non-qualified stock options under U.S. income tax regulations. Compensation expense for performance units payable in L-3 Holdings common stock is based on the fair value of the units at the grant date (measurement date), adjusted each reporting period for progress towards the target award, and recognized on a straight line basis over the requisite service period. Compensation expense for performance units that are payable in cash is based on a binomial valuation technique (the Monte Carlo valuation model) adjusted for historical performance each reporting period and recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.

Income Taxes: The Company provides for income taxes using the liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities reflect tax carryforwards and the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and income tax purposes, as determined under enacted tax laws and rates. The effect of changes in tax laws or rates is accounted for in the period of enactment. Valuation allowances for deferred tax assets are provided when it is more likely than not that the assets will not be realized, considering, when appropriate, tax planning strategies.

Income tax accounting standards prescribe: (1) a minimum recognition threshold that an income tax benefit arising from an uncertain income tax position taken, or expected to be taken, on an income tax return is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements and (2) the measurement of the income tax benefits recognized from such positions. The Company’s accounting policy is to classify uncertain income tax positions that are not expected to be resolved in one year as non-current income tax liabilities and to classify potential interest and penalties on uncertain income tax positions as elements of the provision for income taxes on its financial statements.

Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase.

Contracts in Process: Contracts in process include unbilled contract receivables and inventoried contract costs for which sales and profits are recognized using a POC method of accounting. Unbilled Contract Receivables represent accumulated incurred costs and earned profits or losses on contracts in process that have been recorded as sales, primarily using the cost-to-cost method, which have not yet been billed to customers. Inventoried Contract Costs represent incurred costs on contracts in process that have not yet been recognized as costs and expenses because the related sales, which are primarily recorded using the units-of-delivery method, have not been recognized. Contract costs include direct costs and indirect costs, including overhead costs. As discussed in Note 5, the Company’s inventoried contract costs for U.S. Government contracts, and contracts with prime contractors or subcontractors of the U.S. Government include allocated general and administrative costs (G&A), IRAD costs and B&P costs. Contracts in Process contain amounts relating to contracts and programs with long performance cycles, a portion of which may not be realized within one year. For contracts in a loss position, the unrecoverable costs expected to be incurred in future periods are recorded in Estimated Costs in Excess of Estimated Contract Value to Complete Contracts in Process in a Loss Position, which is a component of Other Current Liabilities. Under the terms of certain revenue arrangements (contracts) with the U.S. Government, the Company may receive progress payments as costs are incurred or milestone payments as work is performed. The U.S. Government has a security interest in the Unbilled Contract Receivables and Inventoried Contract Costs to which progress payments have been applied, and such progress payments are reflected as a reduction of the related amounts. Milestone payments that have been received in excess of contract costs incurred and related estimated profits are reported on the Company’s balance sheet as Advance Payments and Billings in Excess of Costs Incurred.

The Company values its acquired contracts in process in connection with business acquisitions on the date of acquisition at contract value less the Company’s estimated costs to complete the contract and a reasonable profit allowance on the Company’s completion effort commensurate with the profit margin that the Company earns on similar contracts.

Inventories: Inventories, other than Inventoried Contract Costs, are stated at cost (first-in, first-out or average cost), but not in excess of realizable value. A provision for excess or inactive inventory is recorded based upon an analysis that considers current inventory levels, historical usage patterns and future sales expectations.

Property, Plant and Equipment: Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed by applying principally the straight-line method to the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Useful lives range substantially from 10 to 40 years for buildings and improvements and 3 to 10 years for machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the improvements. When property or equipment is retired or otherwise disposed of, the net book value of the asset is removed from the Company’s balance sheet and the net gain or loss is included in the determination of operating income. Property, plant and equipment acquired as part of a business acquisition is valued at fair value.

Goodwill: The carrying value of goodwill and indefinite lived identifiable intangible assets are not amortized, but are tested for impairment annually as of November 30 as well as whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable using a two-step process for each reporting unit. The first step in the process is to identify any potential impairment by comparing the carrying value of a reporting unit and its fair value. The Company determines the fair value of its reporting units using a discounted cash flows valuation approach. If a potential impairment is identified, the second step is to measure the impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of goodwill with the carrying value of goodwill of the reporting unit. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company recorded a $43 million goodwill impairment charge. See Note 7 for additional information on the goodwill impairment charge. There were no impairment charges that resulted from the annual impairment assessment or change in circumstances during 2010 or 2009.

Identifiable Intangible Assets: Identifiable intangible assets represent assets acquired as part of the Company’s business acquisitions and include customer contractual relationships, technology, favorable leasehold interests and trade names. The initial measurement of these intangible assets is based on their fair values. Identifiable intangible assets are: (1) tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable and (2) amortized over their estimated useful lives as the economic benefits are consumed, ranging from 4 to 30 years. The Company reviews and updates its estimates of the duration of its customer contractual relationships. If such estimates indicate that the duration of the Company’s customer contractual relationships has decreased compared to the estimates made as of the date the Company acquired these intangible assets, then the Company accelerates the amortization period for its customer contractual relationships over their remaining useful economic life.

Derivative Financial Instruments: The Company’s derivative financial instruments include foreign currency forward contracts, which are entered into for risk management purposes, and an embedded derivative representing the contingent interest payment provision related to the CODES.

The Company’s U.S. and foreign businesses enter into contracts with customers, subcontractors or vendors that are denominated in currencies other than their functional currencies. To protect the functional currency equivalent cash flows associated with certain of these contracts, the Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts. The Company’s activities involving foreign currency forward contracts are designed to hedge the changes in the functional currency equivalent cash flows due to movements in foreign exchange rates compared to the functional currency. The foreign currencies hedged are primarily the Canadian dollar, the Euro, the British pound and the U.S. dollar. The Company manages exposure to counterparty non-performance credit risk by entering into foreign currency forward contracts only with major financial institutions that are expected to fully perform under the terms of such contracts. Foreign currency forward contracts are recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value and are generally designated and accounted for as cash flow hedges in accordance with the accounting standards for derivative instruments and hedging activities. Gains and losses on designated foreign currency forward contracts that are highly effective in offsetting the corresponding change in the cash flows of the hedged transactions are recorded net of income taxes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (accumulated OCI) and then recognized in income when the underlying hedged transaction affects income. Gains and losses on foreign currency forward contracts that do not meet hedge accounting criteria are recognized in income immediately.

The embedded derivative related to the issuance of the CODES is recorded at fair value with changes reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Translation of Foreign Currency and Foreign Currency Transactions: Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into the local (functional) currency of the respective business at the approximate prevailing rate at the time of the transaction. Foreign exchange transaction gains and losses in the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 are not material to the Company’s results of operations. The operations of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated from the local (functional) currencies into U.S. dollars using weighted average rates of exchange during each reporting period. The rates of exchange at each balance sheet date are used for translating the assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. Gains or losses resulting from these translation adjustments are included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Accounting Standards Issued and Not Yet Implemented: In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a revised accounting standard regarding the presentation of comprehensive income in financial statements that eliminates the option to present other comprehensive income (OCI) within the statement of equity. The revised standard requires net income, the components of other OCI, and total comprehensive income to be presented in either one continuous statement or two separate but consecutive statements. In December 2011, the FASB deferred the new requirement to present components of reclassifications from OCI to net income on the face of the income statement and to require continuation of current disclosure requirements of such reclassifications in the notes to the financial statements. The revised standard is effective for the Company for periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and requires retrospective application for all periods presented, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard will not impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In September 2011, the FASB issued a revised accounting standard allowing companies 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. If, as a result of the qualitative assessment, it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, a more detailed two-step goodwill impairment test would be performed to identify a potential goodwill impairment and measure the amount of loss to be recognized, if any. The standard will be effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed after December 31, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.