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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policy)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]

Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (the "Company," "Hill-Rom," "we," "us," or "our") (formerly known as Hillenbrand Industries, Inc.) was incorporated on August 7, 1969 in the State of Indiana and is headquartered in Batesville, Indiana. We are a leading worldwide manufacturer and provider of medical technologies and related services for the health care industry, including patient support systems, safe mobility and handling solutions, non-invasive therapeutic products for a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions, medical equipment rentals, surgical products and information technology solutions. Our comprehensive product and service offerings are used by health care providers across the health care continuum and around the world in hospitals, extended care facilities and home care settings, to enhance the safety and quality of patient care. In February 2012, we acquired Völker, a German manufacturer and distributor of patient support surfaces. In July 2012, we acquired Aspen Surgical, a U.S.-based manufacturer of surgical products including the Bard-Parker® line of blades and scalpels.

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Hill-Rom and its subsidiaries. All subsidiaries are wholly-owned as of September 30, 2012. During the first quarter of our fiscal 2011, we acquired the remaining 40 percent noncontrolling interest in a former joint venture (Note 2). Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Examples of such estimates include our accounts receivable reserves (Note 1), accrued warranties (Note 1), the impairment of intangibles and goodwill (Note 3), investments (Note 5), income taxes (Note 9) and commitments and contingencies (Note 13), among others.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider investments in marketable securities and other highly liquid instruments with a maturity of three months or less at date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Investments which have no stated maturity are also considered cash equivalents. All of our marketable securities may be freely traded.

Investment Securities

At September 30, 2012, investment securities consisted primarily of AAA rated student loan auction rate securities ("ARS"). These securities are generally insured through the U.S. government's Federal Family Education Loan Program, to the extent the borrowers meet certain prescribed criteria in their underlying lending practices. These securities are classified as available-for-sale and changes in their fair value are recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) ("AOCL").

We also previously held ARS with UBS Financial Services ("UBS"). During the first quarter of 2009, we entered into an enforceable, non-transferable right (the "Put") with UBS, which allowed us to exercise this Put at anytime during the period of June 30, 2010 through July 2, 2012. During the quarter ended June 30, 2010, UBS redeemed $14.1 million of our ARS plus interest. On June 30, 2010, we successfully exercised our rights under this Put for all remaining ARS held with UBS and received cash proceeds of $12.0 million, including accrued interest, on July 1, 2010.

We regularly evaluate all investments classified as available-for-sale for possible impairment based on current economic conditions, credit loss experience and other criteria. The evaluation of investments for impairment requires significant judgments to be made including (i) the identification of potentially impaired securities; (ii) the determination of their estimated fair value; (iii) the assessment of whether any decline in estimated fair value is other-than-temporary; and (iv) the likelihood of selling before recovery. If there is a decline in a security's net realizable value that is other-than-temporary and we are not likely to sell before recovery, the decline is separated into the amount of impairment related to credit loss and the amount of impairment related to all other factors. The decline related to the credit loss is recognized in earnings, while the decline related to all other factors is recognized in AOCL.

See Note 5 for further details on our fair value measurements.

Trade Accounts Receivable

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest, unless the transaction is an installment sale with payment terms exceeding one year. Reserves for uncollectible accounts represent our best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses and collection risk in our existing accounts receivable. We determine such reserves based on historical write-off experience by industry and reimbursement platform. Receivables are generally reviewed on a pooled basis based on historical collection experience for each reimbursement and receivable type. Receivables for capital sales transactions are also reviewed individually for collectability. Account balances are charged against the allowance when we believe it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. We do not have any off-balance sheet credit exposure related to our customers. If circumstances change, such as higher than expected claims denials, payment defaults, changes in our business composition or processes, adverse changes in general economic conditions, unfavorable impacts of austerity measures initiated by some governmental authorities, instability or disruption of credit markets, or an unexpected material adverse change in a major customer's or payor's ability to meet its obligations, our estimates of the realizability of trade receivables could be reduced by a material amount.

Within rental revenues, the domestic third-party payors' reimbursement process requires extensive documentation, which has had the effect of slowing both the billing and cash collection cycles relative to the rest of the business, and therefore, increasing total accounts receivable. Because of the extensive documentation required and the requirement to settle a claim with the primary payor prior to billing the secondary and/or patient portion of the claim, the collection period for a claim in a portion of our business may, in some cases, be extended.

We generally hold our trade accounts receivable until they are paid. Certain long-term receivables are occasionally sold to third parties; however, any recognized gain or loss on such sales has historically not been material.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Inventory costs are determined by the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") method for approximately 44 and 60 percent of our inventories at September 30, 2012 and 2011. Costs for other inventories have been determined principally by the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method. Inventories consist of the following:

	September 30
	2012		2011

Finished products	$	71.8	$	55.6
Work in process		6.4		4.2
Raw materials		48.7		35.8
Total	$	126.9	$	95.6

If the FIFO method of inventory accounting, which approximates current cost, had been used for all inventories, they would have been approximately $3.1 million and $2.2 million higher than reported at September 30, 2012 and 2011.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful life of the assets using principally the straight-line method. Ranges of estimated useful lives are as follows:

		Useful Life
Land improvements		6 - 15 years
Buildings and building equipment		10 - 40 years
Machinery and equipment		3 - 10 years
Equipment leased to others		2 -10 years

When property, plant and equipment is retired from service or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related amount of depreciation or amortization are eliminated from the asset and accumulated depreciation accounts. The difference, if any, between the net asset value and the proceeds on sale are charged or credited to income. Total depreciation expense for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $73.9 million, $74.3 million and $72.8 million. The major components of property and the related accumulated depreciation were as follows:

	September 30
	2012				2011
			Accumulated				Accumulated
	Cost		Depreciation		Cost		Depreciation

Land and land improvements	$	16.1	$	4.4	$	12.2	$	3.9
Buildings and building equipment		142.6		85.8		115.3		79.0
Machinery and equipment		276.3		187.6		269.0		205.3
Equipment leased to others		399.9		307.0		423.1		308.6
Total	$	834.9	$	584.8	$	819.6	$	596.8

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets are stated at cost and consist predominantly of goodwill, software, patents and trademarks. With the exception of goodwill and certain trademarks, our intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over periods generally ranging from 3 to 20 years.

We assess the carrying value of goodwill and non-amortizable intangibles annually, during the third quarter of each fiscal year, or more often if events or changes in circumstances indicate there may be impairment. Goodwill is allocated among the reporting units based on the relative fair value of those units.

The majority of our goodwill and many of our intangible assets are not deductible for income tax purposes. A summary of intangible assets and the related accumulated amortization and impairment losses follows:

	September 30
	2012				2011
			Amortization				Amortization
	Cost		and Impairment		Cost		and Impairment

Goodwill	$	808.0	$	472.8	$	560.0	$	472.8
Software		163.2		123.7		154.7		106.2
Other		334.4		83.1		134.7		57.1
Total	$	1,305.6	$	679.6	$	849.4	$	636.1

Amortization expense for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $37.8 million, $29.6 million and $26.9 million. Amortization expense for all intangibles is expected to approximate the following for each of the next five fiscal years and thereafter:

	Amount
2013	$	45.9
2014	$	39.5
2015	$	34.7
2016	$	28.4
2017	$	20.8
2018 and beyond	$	88.6

Software consists mainly of capitalized costs associated with internal use software, including applicable costs associated with the implementation/upgrade of our Enterprise Resource Planning system. In addition, software includes capitalized development costs for software products to be sold. The net book value of computer software costs, included within Intangible assets, was $39.5 million and $48.5 million at September 30, 2012 and 2011. Capitalized software costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from three to ten years. Software amortization expense approximated $20.7 million, $19.1 million and $17.5 million for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010, and is included in the total intangibles amortization presented earlier.

Guarantees

We routinely grant limited warranties on our products with respect to defects in material and workmanship. The terms of these warranties are generally one year, however, certain components and products have substantially longer warranty periods. We recognize a reserve with respect to these obligations at the time of product sale, with subsequent warranty claims recorded directly against the reserve. The amount of the warranty reserve is determined based on historical trend experience for the covered products. For more significant warranty-related matters which might require a broad-based correction, separate reserves are established when such events are identified and the cost of correction can be reasonably estimated. During the third quarter of fiscal 2012, we initiated a field corrective action on one of our med-surg product lines related to an intermittent circuit board connection issue. We recognized a charge of $16.0 million for this action. This voluntary action does not limit the manufacture, sale or ongoing use of these beds.

A reconciliation of changes in our warranty reserve is as follows:

	2012			2011			2010

Balance at October 1	$	17.8		$	15.8		$	17.1
Provision for warranties during the period		31.8			17.0			16.0
Warranty reserves acquired		9.7			-			-
Warranty claims incurred during the period		(17.1	)		(15.0	)		(17.3	)
Balance at September 30	$	42.2		$	17.8		$	15.8

In the normal course of business we enter into various other guarantees and indemnities in our relationships with suppliers, service providers, customers, business partners and others. Examples of these arrangements would include guarantees of product performance, indemnifications to service providers and indemnifications of our actions to business partners. These guarantees and indemnifications have not historically nor do we expect them to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations, although indemnifications associated with our actions generally have no dollar limitations.

In conjunction with our acquisition and divestiture activities, we have entered into select guarantees and indemnifications of performance with respect to the fulfillment of our commitments under applicable purchase and sale agreements. The arrangements generally indemnify the buyer or seller for damages associated with breach of contract, inaccuracies in representations and warranties surviving the closing date and satisfaction of liabilities and commitments retained under the applicable contract. With respect to sale transactions, we also routinely enter into non-competition agreements for varying periods of time. Guarantees and indemnifications with respect to acquisition and divestiture activities, if triggered, could have a materially adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

Retirement Plans

We sponsor retirement and postretirement plans covering select employees. Expense recognized in relation to these defined benefit retirement plans and the postretirement health care plan in the U.S. is based upon actuarial valuations and inherent in those valuations are key assumptions including discount rates, and where applicable, expected returns on assets, projected future salary rates and projected health care cost trends. The discount rates used in the valuation of our defined benefit pension and postretirement plans are evaluated annually based on current market conditions. In setting these rates we utilize long-term bond indices and yield curves as a preliminary indication of interest rate movements, and then make adjustments to the respective indices to reflect differences in the terms of the bonds covered under the indices in comparison to the projected outflow of our obligations. Our overall expected long-term rate of return on pension assets is based on historical and expected future returns, which are inflation adjusted and weighted for the expected return for each component of the investment portfolio. Our rate of assumed compensation increase is also based on our specific historical trends of wage adjustments.

We account for our defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans by recognizing the funded status of a benefit plan in the statement of financial position. We also recognize in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) certain gains and losses that arose during the period. See Note 6 for key assumptions and further discussion related to our pension and postretirement plans.

Environmental Liabilities

Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations, and which do not contribute to future revenue generation, are expensed. A reserve is established when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. These reserves are determined without consideration of possible loss recoveries from third parties.

Specific costs included in environmental expense and reserves include site assessment, development of a remediation plan, clean-up costs, post-remediation expenditures, monitoring, fines, penalties and legal fees. Reserve amounts represent the expected undiscounted future cash outflows associated with such plans and actions.

Self Insurance

We are generally self-insured up to certain limits for product/general liability, workers' compensation, auto liability and professional liability insurance programs. These policies have deductibles and self-insured retentions ranging from $150 thousand to $1.5 million per occurrence, depending upon the type of coverage and policy period. We are also generally self-insured up to certain stop-limits for certain employee health benefits, including medical, drug and dental. Our policy is to estimate reserves based upon a number of factors including known claims, estimated incurred but not reported claims and outside actuarial analysis, which are based on historical information along with certain assumptions about future events. Such estimated reserves are classified as Other Current Liabilities and Other Long-Term Liabilities within the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Revenue Recognition - Sales and Rentals

Net revenues reflect gross revenues less sales discounts and allowances and customer returns for product sales and rental revenue reserves. Revenue is evaluated under the following criteria and recognized when each is met:

•

Evidence of an arrangement: An agreement with the customer reflecting the terms and conditions to deliver products or services serves as evidence of an arrangement.

•

Delivery: For products, delivery is considered to occur upon receipt by the customer and the transfer of title and risk of loss. For rental services, delivery is considered to occur when the services are rendered.

•

Fixed or determinable price: The sales price is considered fixed or determinable if it is not subject to refund or adjustment.

•

Collection is deemed probable: At or prior to the time of a transaction, credit reviews of each customer are performed to determine the creditworthiness of the customer. Collection is deemed probable if the customer is expected to be able to pay amounts under the arrangement as those amounts become due. If collection is not probable, revenue is recognized when collection becomes probable, generally upon cash collection.

As a general interpretation of the above guidelines, revenues for health care and surgical products are generally recognized upon delivery of the products to the customer and their assumption of risk of loss and other risks and rewards of ownership. Local business customs and non-standard sales terms can sometimes result in deviations to this normal practice in certain instances; however, in no case is revenue recognized prior to the transfer of risk of loss and rewards of ownership.

For non-invasive therapy products and medical equipment management services, the majority of product offerings are rental products for which revenues are recognized consistent with the rendering of the service and use of products. For The Vest® product, revenue is generally recognized at the time of receipt of authorization for billing from the applicable paying entity as this serves as evidence of the arrangement and sets a fixed or determinable price.

For health care products and services aimed at improving operational efficiency and asset utilization, various revenue recognition techniques are used, depending on the offering. Arrangements to provide services, routinely under separately sold service and maintenance contracts, result in the deferral of revenues until specified services are performed. Service contract revenue is generally recognized ratably over the contract period, if applicable, or as services are rendered. Product-related goods are generally recognized upon delivery to the customer.

Revenues are presented in the Statements of Consolidated Income net of certain discounts and sales adjustments. For product sales, we record reserves resulting in a reduction of revenue for contractual discounts, as well as price concessions and product returns. Likewise, rental revenue reserves, reflecting contractual and other routine billing adjustments, are recorded as a reduction of revenues. Reserves for revenue are estimated based upon historical rates for revenue adjustments.

Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Units

Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are directly imposed on a revenue producing transaction between us and our customers, including but not limited to sales taxes, use taxes, and value added taxes, are accounted for on a net (excluded from revenues and costs) basis.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of goods sold for capital sales consists primarily of purchased material costs, fixed manufacturing expense, variable direct labor, overhead costs and costs associated with the distribution and delivery of products to our customers. Rental expenses consist of costs associated directly with rental revenue, including depreciation, maintenance, logistics and service center facility and personnel costs.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Costs were $66.9 million, $63.8 million and $58.3 million for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010.

In addition, certain software development technology costs are capitalized as intangibles and are amortized over a period of three to five years once the software is ready for its intended use. The amount capitalized during fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010 was approximately $2.3 million, $2.1 million and $4.8 million.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Costs were $4.4 million, $4.0 million and $4.3 million for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010.

Comprehensive Income

We include the net-of-tax effect of unrealized gains or losses on our available-for-sale securities, foreign currency translation adjustments and pension or other defined benefit postretirement plans' actuarial gains or losses and prior service costs or credits in comprehensive income.

The composition of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) is as follows:

	September 30
	2012			2011			2010

Available-for-sale securities and currency hedges, net of tax of
$0.2, $0.4 and $0.4, respectively	$	(0.4	)	$	(0.9	)	$	(0.7	)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax of $0.1, ($1.7)
and ($2.2), respectively		(17.2	)		(15.7	)		(11.9	)
Items not yet recognized as a component of net periodic pension
and postretirement healthcare costs, net of tax of $36.6, $38.2
and $29.3, respectively		(60.4	)		(62.4	)		(49.2	)
Total	$	(78.0	)	$	(79.0	)	$	(61.8	)

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of foreign operations is generally the local currency in the country of domicile. Assets and liabilities of foreign operations are primarily translated into U.S. dollars at year-end rates of exchange and the income statements are translated at the average rates of exchange prevailing during the year. Adjustments resulting from translation of the financial statements of foreign operations into U.S. dollars are excluded from the determination of net income, but included as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss). Foreign currency gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in our results of operations and are not material.

Stock-Based Compensation

We account for stock-based compensation under fair value provisions. Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized as expense over the vesting period. In order to determine the fair value of stock options and other performance-based stock awards on the date of grant, we utilize a Binomial model. Inherent in this model are assumptions related to a volatility factor, expected life, risk-free interest rate, dividend yield and expected forfeitures. The risk-free interest rate is based on factual data derived from public sources. The volatility factor, expected life, dividend yield and expected forfeiture assumptions require judgment utilizing historical information, peer data and future expectations. Deferred stock (also known as restricted stock units ("RSUs")) is measured based on the fair market price of our common stock on the date of grant, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange, multiplied by the number of units granted. See Note 7 for further details.

Income Taxes

The Company and our eligible domestic subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. income tax return. Foreign operations file income tax returns in a number of jurisdictions. Deferred income taxes are computed using an asset and liability approach to reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the financial reporting carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and the corresponding income tax amounts. We have a variety of deferred tax assets in numerous tax jurisdictions. These deferred tax assets are subject to periodic assessment as to recoverability and if it is determined that it is more likely than not that the benefits will not be realized, valuation allowances are recognized. In evaluating whether it is more likely than not that we would recover these deferred tax assets, future taxable income, the reversal of existing temporary differences and tax planning strategies are considered.

We account for uncertain income tax positions using a threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The difference between the tax benefit recognized in the financial statements for an uncertain income tax position and the tax benefit claimed in the tax return is referred to as an unrecognized tax benefit. See Note 9 for further details.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity

We use derivative financial instruments to manage the economic impact of fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Derivative financial instruments related to currency exchange rates include forward purchase and sale agreements which generally have terms no greater than 15 months. Additionally, interest rate swaps have sometimes been used to convert a portion of our long-term debt from fixed to variable interest rates.

Derivative financial instruments are recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as either assets or liabilities and are measured at fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in the Statement of Consolidated Income or Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), depending on whether a derivative is designated and considered effective as part of a hedge transaction, and if it is, the type of hedge transaction. Gains and losses on derivative instruments reported in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) are subsequently included in the Statement of Consolidated Income in the periods in which earnings are affected by the hedged item. These activities have not had a material effect on our financial position or results of operations for the periods presented herein.

Recently Issued Accounting Guidance

On October 1, 2011, we adopted the Financial Accounting Standard Board's ("FASB") revised authoritative guidance on the annual goodwill impairment test to provide the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the current two-step test. If, as a result of the qualitative assessment, it is determined it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the quantitative impairment test is required. Otherwise, no further testing is required. We applied this guidance effective with our fiscal 2012 annual goodwill impairment test which was performed in our third fiscal quarter. See further discussion in Note 3.

On October 1, 2011, we adopted the FASB's revised authoritative guidance on business combinations which requires revenues and earnings of the combined entity be disclosed as if the business combination occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period. This guidance also requires additional disclosures about adjustments included in the reported proforma revenues and earnings. This guidance applies prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after October 1, 2011. See further discussion in Note 2.

In June 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to the authoritative guidance on comprehensive income. The amendment eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity or include the components in the Notes of our Consolidated Financial Statements and instead requires the presentation of comprehensive income in either (1) a continuous statement of comprehensive income or (2) two separate but consecutive statements. The amendment will be effective for our quarter ending December 31, 2012. The adoption of this amendment is not expected to have a material effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements, but will require us to change our current presentation and include comprehensive income on the face of our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In December 2011, the FASB issued a standard regarding disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities. The standard requires entities to disclose both gross and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the Balance Sheet or those instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting agreement. The standard will be effective beginning October 1, 2013. We do not expect this to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In July 2012, the FASB issued an amendment to the authoritative guidance on the annual impairment test on indefinite-lived intangible assets. The amendment provides the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the current quantitative test. If, as a result of the qualitative assessment, it is determined it is more likely than not that the fair value of an intangible asset is less than its carrying amount, the quantitative impairment test is required. Otherwise, no further testing is required. The amendment will be effective beginning October 1, 2013, however early adoption is permitted. We will consider applying this guidance in connection with future annual intangible impairment tests. We do not expect this to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements