Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2012

Accounting Policies

Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets

Goodwill and intangible assets not subject to amortization are tested for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that it is “more likely than not” that goodwill might be impaired, such as a change in business conditions. The Company performs its annual impairment assessment of goodwill and intangible assets not subject to amortization in the fourth quarter of each year.

Intangible assets with estimable lives and other long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. Recoverability of intangible assets with estimable lives and other long-lived assets are measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or asset group to future net undiscounted pretax cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group. If these comparisons indicate that an asset is not recoverable, the impairment loss recognized is the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset or asset group exceeds the related estimated fair value. Estimated fair value is based on either discounted future pretax operating cash flows or appraised values, depending on the nature of the asset. The Company determines the discount rate for this analysis based on the weighted average cost of capital based on the market and guideline public companies for the related business and does not allocate interest charges to the asset or asset group being measured.  Judgment is required to estimate future operating cash flows.

Stock-Based Compensation and Chief Executive Officer Separation Costs

The Company maintains three stock incentive plans under which key employees and non-employee members of the Company’s Board of Directors have been granted incentive stock options (ISOs) and nonqualified stock options (NSOs) to purchase the Company’s Class A Common Stock. Only one plan, the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, is currently available for the grant of new stock options, which are currently being granted only to employees. Stock options granted under prior plans became exercisable over a five-year period at the rate of 20% per year and expire ten years after the date of grant. Under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, options become exercisable over a four-year period at the rate of 25% per year and expire ten years after the grant date. ISOs and NSOs granted under the plans may have exercise prices of not less than 100% and 50% of the fair market value of the Class A Common Stock on the date of grant, respectively. The Company’s current practice is to grant all options at fair market value on the grant date. The Company did not issue any stock options during the first quarters of 2012 and 2011.

The Company has also granted shares of restricted stock to key employees and stock awards to non-employee members of the Company’s Board of Directors under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, which vest either immediately, or over a three-year period at the rate of one-third per year. The restricted stock awards are amortized to expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The Company issued 1,400 shares of restricted stock under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan in the first quarter of 2011.  The Company did not issue any restricted stock in the first quarter of 2012.

The Company also has a Management Stock Purchase Plan that allows for the purchase of restricted stock units (RSUs) by key employees.  On an annual basis, key employees may elect to receive a portion of their annual incentive compensation in RSUs instead of cash.  Each RSU represents one share of Class A Common Stock and is purchased by the employee at 67% of the fair market value of the Company’s Class A Common Stock on the date of grant.  RSUs vest annually over a three-year period from the grant date and receipt of the shares underlying RSUs is deferred for a minimum of three years or such greater number of years as is chosen by the employee.  An aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock may be issued under the Management Stock Purchase Plan.  The Company granted 63,739 RSUs and 96,454 RSUs in the first quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Shipping and Handling

The Company’s shipping costs included in selling, general and administrative expenses were $9.9 million and $8.8 million for the first quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Research and Development

Research and development costs included in selling, general and administrative expenses were $5.4 million and $5.0 million for the first quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Taxes, Other than Income Taxes

Taxes assessed by governmental authorities on sale transactions are recorded on a net basis and excluded from sales in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.