Nature Of Operations And Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

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

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

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 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 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.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740 “Income Taxes” which requires an asset and liability approach for the financial accounting and reporting of income taxes. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. These balances are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply in the year(s) in which these temporary differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred income taxes is recognized in income in the period when the change is enacted.

Based on consideration of all available evidence regarding their utilization, the Company records net deferred tax assets to the extent that it is more likely than not that they will be realized. Where, based on the weight of all available evidence, it is more likely than not that some amount of a deferred tax asset will not be realized, the Company establishes a valuation allowance for the amount that, in management's judgment, is sufficient to reduce the deferred tax asset to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The evidence the Company considers in reaching such conclusions includes, but is not limited to, (1) future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, (2) future taxable income exclusive of reversing taxable temporary differences, (3) taxable income in prior carryback year(s) if carryback is permitted under the tax law, (4) cumulative losses in recent years, (5) a history of tax losses or credit carryforwards expiring unused, (6) a carryback or carryforward period that is so brief it limits realization of tax benefits, and (7) a strong earnings history exclusive of the loss that created the carryforward and support showing that the loss is an aberration rather than a continuing condition.

The Company accounts for unrecognized tax benefits in accordance with ASC Topic 740, which prescribes a minimum probability threshold that a tax position must meet before a financial statement benefit is recognized. The minimum threshold is defined as a tax position that is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation, based solely on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit recognized is the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the income tax expense line of its Consolidated Statement of Operations, while accrued interest and penalties are included within the related tax liability line of its Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In determining whether the earnings of its non-U.S. subsidiaries are permanently reinvested overseas, the Company considers the following:


•	Its history of utilizing non-U.S. cash to acquire non-U.S. businesses,


•	Its current and future needs for cash outside the U.S. (e.g., to fund capital expenditures, business operations, potential acquisitions, etc.),


•	Its ability to satisfy U.S.-based cash needs (e.g., domestic pension contributions, interest payment on external debt, dividends to shareholders, etc.) with cash generated by its U.S. businesses, and


•	The effect U.S. tax reform proposals calling for reduced corporate income tax rates and/or “repatriation” tax holidays would have on the amount of the tax liability.

Earnings Per Share

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.

Cash And Cash Equivalents

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

Accounts Receivable Receivables are carried at net realizable value.

A summary of allowance for doubtful accounts activity follows:



(in thousands) December 31,	2012			2011			2010
Balance at beginning of year	$	7,317		$	8,221		$	8,906
Provisions	5,878			5,518			4,250
Deductions	(6,504		)	(6,422		)	(4,935		)
Balance at end of year	$	6,691		$	7,317		$	8,221

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 Inventories consist of the following:



(in thousands) December 31,	2012		2011
Finished goods	$	113,872	$	105,442
Finished parts and subassemblies	37,517		35,100
Work in process	59,277		74,608
Raw materials	142,059		145,539
Total inventories	$	352,725	$	360,689

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 increased costs of sales by $3.1 million and reduced cost of sales by $0.8 million and $4.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The portion of inventories costed using the LIFO method was 29% and 35% of consolidated inventories at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. If inventories that were valued using the LIFO method had been valued under the FIFO method, they would have been higher by $15.4 million and $12.3 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Property, Plant And Equipment

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



(in thousands) December 31,	2012		2011
Land	$	69,385	$	68,404
Buildings and improvements	180,909		191,821
Machinery and equipment	546,083		541,832
Gross property, plant and equipment	796,377		802,057
Less: accumulated depreciation	528,094		517,911
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	268,283	$	284,146

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 $40.4 million, $39.9 million and $41.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Goodwill And Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets The Company’s business acquisitions have typically resulted in the recognition of goodwill and other intangible assets. The Company follows the provisions under ASC Topic 350, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other” (“ASC 350”) as it relates to the accounting for goodwill in the Consolidated Financial Statements. These provisions require that the Company, on at least an annual basis, evaluate the fair value of the reporting units to which goodwill is assigned and attributed and compare that fair value to the carrying value of the reporting unit to determine if an impairment has occurred. The Company performs its annual impairment testing during the fourth quarter. Impairment testing takes place more often than annually if events or circumstances indicate a change in status that would indicate a potential impairment. The Company believes that there have been no events or circumstances which would more likely than not reduce the fair value for its reporting units below its carrying value. A reporting unit is an operating segment unless discrete financial information is prepared and reviewed by segment management for businesses one level below that operating segment (a “component”), in which case the component would be the reporting unit. In certain instances, the Company has aggregated components of an operating segment into a single reporting unit based on similar economic characteristics. At December 31, 2012, the Company had eleven reporting units.

When performing its annual impairment assessment, the Company compares the fair value of each of its reporting units to its respective carrying value. Goodwill is considered to be potentially impaired when the net book value of the reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value. Fair values are established primarily by discounting estimated future cash flows at an estimated cost of capital which varies for each reporting unit and which, as of the Company’s most recent annual impairment assessment, ranged between 9.5% and 17% (a weighted average of 11%), reflecting the respective inherent business risk of each of the reporting units tested. This methodology for valuing the Company’s reporting units (commonly referred to as the Income Method) has not changed since the adoption of the provisions under ASC 350. The determination of discounted cash flows is based on the businesses’ strategic plans and long-range planning forecasts, which change from year to year. The revenue growth rates included in the forecasts represent best estimates based on current and forecasted market conditions. Profit margin assumptions are projected by each reporting unit based on the current cost structure and anticipated net cost increases/reductions. There are inherent uncertainties related to these assumptions, including changes in market conditions, and management’s judgment in applying them to the analysis of goodwill impairment. In addition to the foregoing, for each reporting unit, market multiples are used to corroborate its discounted cash flow results where fair value is estimated based on earnings multiples determined by available public information of comparable businesses. While the Company believes it has made reasonable estimates and assumptions to calculate the fair value of its reporting units, it is possible a material change could occur. If actual results are not consistent with management’s estimates and assumptions, goodwill and other intangible assets may then be determined to be overstated and a charge would need to be taken against net earnings. Furthermore, in order to evaluate the sensitivity of the fair value calculations on the goodwill impairment test performed during the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company applied a hypothetical, reasonably possible 10% decrease to the fair values of each reporting unit. The effects of this hypothetical 10% decrease would still result in the fair value calculation exceeding the carrying value for each reporting unit.

Changes to goodwill are as follows:



(in thousands) December 31,	2012			2011
Balance at beginning of period	$	820,824		$	810,285
Additions	—			10,900
Disposals	(13,966		)	—
Adjustments to purchase price allocations	—			3,932
Currency translation	6,934			(4,293		)
Balance at end of period	$	813,792		$	820,824

For the year ended December 31, 2012, the disposals represent goodwill associated with the Company’s divested businesses. See discussion in Note 2, "Discontinued Operations" for further details. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the additions to goodwill represent the initial purchase price allocation related to WTA, and the adjustments to purchase price allocations pertain to the December 2010 acquisition of Money Controls and the February 2010 acquisition of Merrimac Industries, Inc. (“Merrimac”).

Changes to intangible assets are as follows:



(in thousands) December 31,	2012			2011
Balance at beginning of period, net of accumulated amortization	$	146,227		$	162,636
Additions	—			5,980
Disposals	(3,789		)	—
Amortization expense	(16,907		)	(21,646		)
Currency translation and other	382			(743		)
Balance at end of period, net of accumulated amortization	$	125,913		$	146,227

For the year ended December 31, 2012, the disposals represent intangible assets associated with the Company’s divested businesses. See discussion in Note 2, "Discontinued Operations" for further details. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the additions relate to the December 2010 acquisition of Money Controls and the July 2011 acquisition of WTA.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company had $125.9 million of net intangible assets, of which $31.2 million were intangibles with indefinite useful lives, consisting of trade names. The Company amortizes the cost of other intangibles over their estimated useful lives unless such lives are deemed indefinite. Intangibles with indefinite useful lives are tested annually for impairment, or when events or changes in circumstances indicate the potential for impairment. If the carrying amount of the intangibles with indefinite useful lives exceeds the fair value, the intangible asset is written down to its fair value. Fair value is calculated using discounted cash flows.

A summary of intangible assets follows:



(in thousands)	Weighted Average Amortization Period of Finite Lived Assets (in years)	December 31, 2012						December 31, 2011
(in thousands)		Gross Asset		Accumulated Amortization		Net		Gross Asset		Accumulated Amortization		Net
Intellectual property rights	18.9	$	88,614	$	47,202	$	41,412	$	89,619	$	46,286	$	43,333
Customer relationships and backlog	11.6	140,250		73,630		66,620		146,291		66,256		80,035
Drawings	37.9	11,149		9,850		1,299		11,824		10,423		1,401
Other	14.1	51,093		34,511		16,582		52,155		30,697		21,458
Total	14.0	$	291,106	$	165,193	$	125,913	$	299,889	$	153,662	$	146,227

Amortization expense for these intangible assets is currently estimated to be approximately $16.5 million in 2013, $14.5 million in 2014, $12.7 million in 2015, $11.9 million in 2016 and $39.1 million in 2017 and thereafter.

Valuation Of Long-Lived Assets

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.

Financial Instruments

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.



(in thousands) December 31,	2012			2011			2010
Currency translation adjustment	$	69,729		$	64,910		$	77,183
Cumulative changes in pension and postretirement plan assets and obligation, net of tax	(197,806		)	(158,422		)	(65,665		)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (a)	$	(128,077	)	$	(93,512	)	$	11,518


(a)	Net of tax benefit of $89,540, $76,179, and $32,091 for 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued amended guidance on the reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The amendments do not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in financial statements. However, the amendments require an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”) to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under U.S. GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts. The amendments are effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2012. The amendments should be applied prospectively and early adoption is 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 when adopted.

In July 2012, the FASB issued amended guidance to simplify how entities test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. The amendments permit an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events and circumstances indicates that it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired and whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test for indefinite-lived intangible assets required under current accounting standards. The amendments are effective for annual and interim impairment tests of indefinite-lived intangible assets performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012 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 when adopted.

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. 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 amendments will be applied retrospectively for interim and annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013. The amended guidance will not have a material impact on the Company's disclosures.

Reclassification

Reclassifications

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