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Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)
12 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Consolidation
Consolidation
The financial statements include the accounts of our majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries and affiliates. Intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Investments in unconsolidated affiliates, over which we exercise significant influence, but not control, are accounted for by the equity method. Accordingly, our share of net income or loss of unconsolidated affiliates is included in net income.
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy
Foreign Currency Translation
For majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries and affiliates, if located outside of the U.S., with functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar, asset and liability accounts are translated at the rates of exchange at the balance sheet date and the resultant translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a separate component of shareholders’ equity. Income and expense items are translated at average monthly rates of exchange. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions of these majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries and affiliates-that is, transactions denominated in other than the functional currency-are included in net earnings.

Our unconsolidated affiliates located outside the U.S. generally use their local currencies as their functional currencies. The asset and liability accounts of those unconsolidated affiliates, and our investment in the net assets of those unconsolidated affiliates, are translated at the rates of exchange at the balance sheet date and the resultant translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a separate component of shareholders’ equity. Our income from these unconsolidated operations is translated at average monthly rates of exchange.
Use Of Estimates
Use of Estimates
Preparation of financial statements that follow accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and notes. Actual amounts could differ from these estimates.
Cash And Cash Equivalents
Cash and Cash Equivalents
All highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less are classified as cash equivalents.
Inventories
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using standard or average costs which approximate the first-in, first-out costing method.
Property, Plant And Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment is stated at historical cost and depreciated over its estimated useful life using the straight-line method for financial reporting and both accelerated and straight-line methods for tax reporting. The estimated useful lives range from 20 to 40 years for buildings and 3 to 12 years for machinery, equipment and computer software. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.
We capitalize costs of software developed or obtained for internal use. Capitalized software development costs include only (1) direct costs paid to others for materials and services to develop or buy the software, (2) payroll and payroll-related costs for employees who work directly on the software development project and (3) interest costs while developing the software. Capitalization of these costs stops when the project is substantially complete and ready for use. Software is amortized using the straight-line method over a range of 3 to 8 years, but not exceeding the expected life of the product. We capitalized $16.7 million of software during the year ended November 30, 2013, $20.5 million during the year ended November 30, 2012 and $17.3 million during the year ended November 30, 2011.
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
We review the carrying value of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets and conduct tests of impairment on an annual basis as described below. We also test goodwill for impairment if events or circumstances indicate it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is below its carrying amount and test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. Separable intangible assets that have finite useful lives are amortized over those lives.
Determining the fair value of a reporting unit or an indefinite-lived purchased intangible asset is judgmental in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions include revenue growth rates and operating margins used to calculate projected future cash flows, risk-adjusted discount rates, assumed royalty rates, future economic and market conditions and determination of appropriate market comparables. We base our fair value estimates on assumptions we believe to be reasonable but that are unpredictable and inherently uncertain. Actual future results may differ from these estimates.
Goodwill Impairment
Our reporting units used to assess potential goodwill impairment are the same as our business segments. We calculate fair value of a reporting unit by using a discounted cash flow model and then compare that to the carrying amount of the reporting unit, including intangible assets and goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the calculated fair value, then we would determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. An impairment charge would be recognized to the extent the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value.
Indefinite-lived Intangible Asset Impairment
Our indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of brand names and trademarks. We calculate fair value by using a discounted cash flow model or relief-from-royalty method and then compare that to the carrying amount of the indefinite-lived intangible asset. If the carrying amount of the indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment charge would be recorded to the extent the recorded indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds the fair value.
Long-lived Fixed Asset Impairment
Fixed assets and amortizable intangible assets are reviewed for impairment as events or changes in circumstances occur indicating that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. Undiscounted cash flow analyses are used to determine if an impairment exists. If an impairment is determined to exist, the loss is calculated based on estimated fair value.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when we have an agreement with the customer, the product has been delivered to the customer, the sales price is fixed and collectability is reasonably assured. We reduce revenue for estimated product returns, allowances and price discounts based on historical experience and contractual terms.
Trade allowances, consisting primarily of customer pricing allowances, merchandising funds and consumer coupons, are offered through various programs to customers and consumers. Revenue is recorded net of trade allowances.
Trade accounts receivable are amounts billed and currently due from customers. We have an allowance for doubtful accounts to reduce our receivables to their net realizable value. We estimate the allowance for doubtful accounts based on our history of collections and the aging of our receivables.
Shipping And Handling
Shipping and Handling
Shipping and handling costs on our products sold to customers are included in selling, general and administrative expense in the income statement. Shipping and handling expense was $96.9 million, $94.8 million and $89.4 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Research And Development
Research and Development
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and are included in selling, general and administrative expense in the income statement. Research and development expense was $61.3 million, $57.8 million and $58.1 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Brand Marketing Support
Brand Marketing Support
Total brand marketing support costs, which are included in selling, general and administrative expense in the income statement, were $207.8 million, $198.3 million and $187.3 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Brand marketing support costs include advertising, promotions and customer trade funds used for cooperative advertising. Promotion costs include public relations, shopper marketing, digital asset depreciation and general consumer promotion activities. Advertising costs include the development, production and communication of advertisements through television, digital, print and radio. These advertisements are expensed as incurred, or for development and production, in the period in which they first run. Advertising expense was $85.0 million, $86.2 million and $77.2 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Policy
Employee Benefit and Retirement Plans
We sponsor defined benefit pension plans in the U.S. and certain foreign locations. In addition, we sponsor defined contribution plans in the U.S. and contribute to government-sponsored retirement plans in locations outside the U.S. We also currently provide postretirement medical and life insurance benefits to certain U.S. employees. 
We recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of our defined benefit pension plans as an asset or a liability in the balance sheet, with changes in the funded status recorded through comprehensive income in the year in which those changes occur.
The expected return on plan assets is determined using the expected rate of return and a calculated value of plan assets referred to as the market-related value of plan assets. Differences between assumed and actual returns are amortized to the market-related value of assets on a straight-line basis over five years.
We use the corridor approach in the valuation of defined benefit pension plans. The corridor approach defers all actuarial gains and losses resulting from variances between actual results and actuarial assumptions. For defined benefit pension plans, these unrecognized gains and losses are amortized when the net gains and losses exceed 10% of the greater of the market-related value of plan assets or the projected benefit obligation at the beginning of the year. The amount in excess of the corridor is amortized over the average remaining service period to retirement date of active plan participants.