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Nature Of Operations And Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Nature Of Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Nature Of Operations And Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1 – Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations

Crane Co. (the "Company") is a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products.

The Company's business consists of five reporting segments: Aerospace & Electronics, Engineered Materials, Merchandising Systems, Fluid Handling and Controls.

The Aerospace & Electronics segment consists of two groups: the Aerospace Group and the Electronics Group. Aerospace products include pressure, fuel flow and position sensors and subsystems; brake control systems; coolant, lube and fuel pumps; and seat actuation. Electronics products include high-reliability power supplies and custom microelectronics for aerospace, defense, medical and other applications; and electrical power components, power management products, electronic radio frequency and microwave frequency components and subsystems for the defense, space and military communications markets.

The Engineered Materials segment manufactures fiberglass-reinforced plastic panels for the truck trailer and recreational vehicle ("RV") markets, industrial markets and the commercial construction industry.

The Merchandising Systems segment consists of two groups: Vending Solutions and Payment Solutions. Vending Solutions products include food, snack and beverage vending machines and vending machine software and online solutions. Payment Solutions products include coin accepters and dispensers, coin hoppers, coin recyclers, bill validators and bill recyclers.

The Fluid Handling segment manufactures and sells various types of industrial and commercial valves and actuators; provides valve testing, parts and services; manufactures and sells pumps and water purification solutions; distributes pipe, pipe fittings, couplings and connectors; and designs, manufactures and sells corrosion-resistant plastic-lined pipes and fittings.

The Controls segment produces ride-leveling, air-suspension control valves for heavy trucks and trailers; pressure, temperature and level sensors; ultra-rugged computers, measurement and control systems and intelligent data acquisition products; and water treatment equipment.

Please refer to Note 13, "Segment Information," of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the relative size of these segments in relation to the total Company (both net sales and total assets).

Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates  The Company's consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). These accounting principles require 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 amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimated. Estimates and assumptions are reviewed periodically, and the effects of revisions are reflected in the financial statements in the period in which they are determined to be necessary. Estimates are used when accounting for such items as asset valuations, allowance for doubtful accounts, depreciation and amortization, impairment assessments, restructuring provisions, employee benefits, taxes, asbestos liability and related insurance receivable, environmental liability and contingencies.

 Currency Translation  Assets and liabilities of subsidiaries that prepare financial statements in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated at the rate of exchange in effect on the balance sheet date; results of operations are translated at the average rates of exchange prevailing during the year. The related translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in a separate component of equity. Revenue Recognition  Sales revenue is recorded when title (risk of loss) passes to the customer and collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. Revenue on long-term, fixed-price contracts is recorded on a percentage of completion basis using units of delivery as the measurement basis for progress toward completion. Sales under cost reimbursement type contracts are recorded as costs are incurred.

Cost of Goods Sold  Cost of goods sold includes the costs of inventory sold and the related purchase and distribution costs. In addition to material, labor and direct overhead, inventoried cost and, accordingly, cost of goods sold include allocations of other expenses that are part of the production process, such as inbound freight charges, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs, amortization of production related intangible assets and depreciation expense. The Company also includes costs directly associated with products sold, such as warranty provisions.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses  Selling, general and administrative expense is charged to income as incurred. Such expenses include the costs of promoting and selling products and include such items as compensation, advertising, sales commissions and travel. In addition, compensation for other operating activities such as executive office administrative and engineering functions are included, as well as general operating expenses such as office supplies, non-income taxes, insurance and office equipment rentals.

Earnings Per Share  The Company's basic earnings per share calculations are based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Shares of restricted stock are included in the computation of both basic and diluted earnings per share. Potentially dilutive securities include outstanding stock options, Restricted Share Units, Deferred Stock Units and Performance-based Restricted Share Units. The dilutive effect of potentially dilutive securities is reflected in diluted earnings per common share by application of the treasury method. Diluted earnings per share gives effect to all potential dilutive common shares outstanding during the year.

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

For year ended December 31,

  2011      2010      2009   

Net income attributable to common shareholders

  $ 26,315       $ 154,170       $ 133,856    

Average basic shares outstanding

    58,120        58,601        58,473   

Effect of dilutive stock options

    1,084        961        339   

Average diluted shares outstanding

    59,204        59,562        58,812   

Basic earnings per share

  $ 0.45      $ 2.63      $ 2.29   

Diluted earnings per share

  $ 0.44      $ 2.59      $ 2.28   

Cash and Cash Equivalents  Cash and cash equivalents include highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less that are readily convertible to cash and are not subject to significant risk from fluctuations in interest rates. As a result, the carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value.

Accounts Receivable  Receivables are carried at net realizable value.

A summary of allowance for doubtful accounts activity follows:

 

(in thousands) December 31,    2011     2010     2009  

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 8,221       $ 8,906       $ 8,081    

Provisions

     5,518        4,250        7,203   

Deductions

     (6,422     (4,935     (6,378

Balance at end of year

   $ 7,317      $ 8,221      $ 8,906   

Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are limited due to the large number of customers and relatively small account balances within the majority of the Company's customer base and their dispersion across different businesses. The Company periodically evaluates the financial strength of its customers and believes that its credit risk exposure is limited.

Inventories  Inventories consist of the following:

 

(in thousands) December 31,    2011     2010  

Finished goods

   $ 105,442       $ 90,825    

Finished parts and subassemblies

     35,100        33,091   

Work in process

     74,608        58,519   

Raw materials

     145,539        136,642   

Total inventories

   $ 360,689      $ 319,077   

Inventories include the costs of material, labor and overhead and are stated at the lower of cost or market. Domestic inventories are stated at either the lower of cost or market using the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") method or the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method. The Company uses LIFO for certain domestic locations, which is allowable under U.S. GAAP, primarily because this method was elected for tax purposes and thus required for financial statement reporting purposes. Inventories held in foreign locations are primarily stated at the lower of cost or market using the FIFO method. The LIFO method is not being used at the Company's foreign locations as such a method is not allowable for tax purposes. Changes in the levels of LIFO inventories have reduced costs of sales by $0.8 million and $4.6 million and increased cost of sales by $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The portion of inventories costed using the LIFO method was 35% of consolidated inventories at December 31, 2011 and 2010. If inventories that were valued using the LIFO method had been valued under the FIFO method, they would have been higher by $12.3 million at both December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Property, Plant and Equipment, net  Property, plant and equipment, net consist of the following:

 

(in thousands) December 31,    2011     2010  

Land

   $ 68,404       $ 64,797    

Buildings and improvements

     191,821        182,554   

Machinery and equipment

     541,832        534,118   

Gross property, plant and equipment

     802,057        781,469   

Less: accumulated depreciation

     517,911        500,723   

Property, plant and equipment, net

   $ 284,146      $ 280,746   

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and depreciation is calculated by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, which range from ten to twenty-five years for buildings and improvements and three to ten years for machinery and equipment. Depreciation expense was $39.9 million, $41.0 million and $41.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Valuation of Long-Lived Assets  The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Examples of events or changes in circumstances could include, but are not limited to, a prolonged economic downturn, current period operating or cash flow losses combined with a history of losses or a forecast of continuing losses associated with the use of an asset or asset group, or a current expectation that an asset or asset group will be sold or disposed of before the end of its previously estimated useful life. Recoverability is based upon projections of anticipated future undiscounted cash flows associated with the use and eventual disposal of the long-lived asset (or asset group), as well as specific appraisal in certain instances. Reviews occur at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of cash flows associated with other long-lived assets or asset groups. If the future undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value, then the long-lived asset is considered impaired and a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the estimated fair value. Judgments that the Company makes which impact these assessments relate to the expected useful lives of long-lived assets and its ability to realize any undiscounted cash flows in excess of the carrying amounts of such assets, and are affected primarily by changes in the expected use of the assets, changes in technology or development of alternative assets, changes in economic conditions, changes in operating performance and changes in expected future cash flows. Since judgment is involved in determining the fair value of long-lived assets, there is risk that the carrying value of our long-lived assets may require adjustment in future periods.

 

 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENT

 

Financial Instruments  The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The Company periodically uses forward foreign exchange contracts as economic hedges of anticipated transactions and firm purchase and sale commitments. These contracts are marked to fair value on a current basis and the respective gains and losses are recognized in other income (expense). The Company also periodically enters into interest-rate swap agreements to moderate its exposure to interest rate changes. Interest-rate swaps are agreements to exchange fixed and variable rate payments based on the notional principal amounts. The changes in the fair value of these derivatives are recognized in other comprehensive income for qualifying cash flow hedges.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The table below provides the accumulated balances for each classification of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), as reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued amended guidance to defer the requirement to present items that are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to net income separately with their respective components of net income and other comprehensive income. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The amended guidance will not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In December 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance on the disclosure requirements on the offsetting of financial assets and liabilities. The amended disclosures will enable financial statement users to compare balance sheets prepared under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), which are subject to different offsetting models. The disclosures will be limited to financial instruments and derivatives instruments that are either offset in accordance with the U.S. GAAP offsetting guidance or subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the amended guidance on its disclosures.

 

In September 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance to simplify how entities test goodwill for impairment. The amendments will allow an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount and whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test required under current accounting standards. The amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the amended guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, cash flows, and disclosures.

In June 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income in financial statements. The amendments will require an entity to present the components of net income and other comprehensive income either in one continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive statements. Under either presentation, entities must display adjustments for items reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income in both net income and other comprehensive income. The amended guidance also eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity. While the new guidance changes the presentation of comprehensive income, there are no changes to the components that are recognized in net income or other comprehensive income, nor is there a change to either the amount or the timing of the recognition of those items. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The amended guidance will not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows, as it only requires a change in the format of the current presentation.

In May 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance to achieve common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS. The amendments change the wording used to describe many of the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. Some of the amendments clarify the application of existing fair value measurement requirements while other amendments change a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or for disclosing information about fair value measurements. The amendments will improve consistency in the application and description of fair value between U.S. GAAP and IFRS. The revised guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company does not expect the amended guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, cash flows, and disclosures.

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.