Basis of Presentation and Nature of Operations

6 Months Ended

May 31, 2012

Basis of Presentation and Nature of Operations and Balance Sheet Accounts [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Nature of Operations

1. Basis of Presentation and Nature of Operations

GenCorp Inc. (“GenCorp” or the “Company”) has prepared the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, including its accounts and the accounts of its wholly owned and majority-owned subsidiaries, in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all of the disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2011, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain reclassifications have been made to financial information for the prior year to conform to the current year’s presentation.

The Company believes the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments, including normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair statement of its financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In addition, the operating results for interim periods may not be indicative of the results of operations for a full year.

The Company is a manufacturer of aerospace and defense products and systems with a real estate segment that includes activities related to the re-zoning, entitlement, sale, and leasing of the Company’s excess real estate assets. The Company’s continuing operations are organized into two segments:

Aerospace and Defense — includes the operations of Aerojet-General Corporation (“Aerojet”) which develops and manufactures propulsion systems for defense and space applications, and armaments for precision tactical and long range weapon systems applications. Primary customers served include major prime contractors to the United States (“U.S.”) government, the Department of Defense (“DoD”), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (“NASA”).

Real Estate — includes the activities of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary Easton Development Company, LLC (“Easton”) related to the re-zoning, entitlement, sale, and leasing of the Company’s excess real estate assets. The Company owns approximately 12,200 acres of land adjacent to U.S. Highway 50 between Rancho Cordova and Folsom, California east of Sacramento (“Sacramento Land”). The Company is currently in the process of seeking zoning changes and other governmental approvals on a portion of the Sacramento Land to optimize its value.

The Company’s fiscal year ends on November 30 of each year. The fiscal year of the Company’s subsidiary, Aerojet, ends on the last Saturday of November.

On August 31, 2004, the Company completed the sale of its GDX Automotive (“GDX”) business. The remaining subsidiaries of GDX, including Snappon SA, are classified as discontinued operations in these Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (see Note 11).

A detailed description of the Company’s significant accounting policies can be found in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2011.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued updated guidance to improve disclosures regarding fair value measurements. This update requires entities to (i) disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers and (ii) present separately (i.e., on a gross basis rather than as one net number), information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of changes in Level 3 fair value measurements. The update requires fair value disclosures by class of assets and liabilities rather than by major category or line item in the statement of financial position. Disclosures regarding the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements for assets and liabilities in both Level 2 and Level 3 are also required. For all portions of the update except the gross presentation of activity in the Level 3 roll forward, this standard was effective for the Company on March 1, 2010. For the gross presentation of activity in the Level 3 roll forward, the new disclosures were effective December 1, 2011. As the accounting standard only impacts disclosures, the new standard did not have an impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

As of September 1, 2011, the Company adopted the FASB’s amended guidance on testing goodwill for impairment. Previous guidance required that an entity test for goodwill impairment by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount including goodwill. If the fair value is less than its carrying amount, then a second step is performed to measure the amount of the impairment loss. Under this new amendment an entity is not required to calculate the fair value of the reporting unit unless the entity determines that it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. The adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In December 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance on disclosure of supplementary pro forma information for business combinations. The new guidance requires that pro forma financial information be prepared as if the business combination occurred as of the beginning of the prior annual period. The guidance was effective for the Company for business combinations subsequent to December 1, 2011.

In May 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance on fair value measurement and related disclosures. The new guidance clarified the concepts applicable for fair value measurement and requires new disclosures, with a particular focus on Level 3 measurements. This guidance was effective for the Company beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, and was applied retrospectively.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income. The amended guidance eliminates one of the presentation options provided by current GAAP, that is to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. In addition, it gives an entity the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2013, and will be applied retrospectively. As the accounting standard only impacts disclosures, the new standard will not have an impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.