Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts and transactions of TriMas and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management of the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Such estimates and assumptions also affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the carrying amount of property and equipment, goodwill and other intangibles, valuation allowances for receivables, inventories and deferred income tax assets, valuation of derivatives, estimated future unrecoverable lease costs, estimated unrecognized tax benefits, reserves for asbestos, legal and product liability matters and assets and obligations related to employee benefits. Actual results may differ from such estimates and assumptions.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Company considers cash on hand and on deposit and investments in all highly liquid debt instruments with initial maturities of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents.

Receivables. Receivables are presented net of allowances for doubtful accounts of approximately $3.8 million and $4.4 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company monitors its exposure for credit losses and maintains allowances for doubtful accounts based upon the Company's best estimate of probable losses inherent in the accounts receivable balances. The Company does not believe that significant credit risk exists due to its diverse customer base.

Sales of Receivables. The Company may, from time to time, sell certain of its receivables to third parties. Sales of receivables are recognized at the point in which the receivables sold are transferred beyond the reach of the Company and its creditors, the purchaser has the right to pledge or exchange the receivables and the Company has surrendered control over the transferred receivables.

Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined using the first-in, first-out method. Direct materials, direct labor and allocations of variable and fixed manufacturing-related overhead are included in inventory cost.

Property and Equipment. Property and equipment additions, including significant improvements, are recorded at cost. Upon retirement or disposal of property and equipment, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any gain or loss is included in the accompanying statement of operations. Repair and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation is computed principally using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Annual depreciation rates are as follows: land and land improvements/buildings, 10 to 40 years, and machinery and equipment, 3 to 15 years. Capitalized debt issuance costs are amortized over the underlying terms of the related debt securities. Customer relationship intangibles are amortized over periods ranging from 5 to 25 years, while technology and other intangibles are amortized over periods ranging from 1 to 30 years.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Definite-Lived Intangible Assets. The Company reviews, on at least a quarterly basis, the financial performance of each business unit for indicators of impairment. In reviewing for impairment indicators, the Company also considers events or changes in circumstances such as business prospects, customer retention, market trends, potential product obsolescence, competitive activities and other economic factors. An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying value of an asset group exceeds the future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by that asset group. The impairment loss recognized is the amount by which the carrying value of the asset group exceeds its fair value.

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangibles. The Company assesses goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis by reviewing relevant qualitative and quantitative factors. More frequent evaluations may be required if the Company experiences changes in its business climate or as a result of other triggering events that take place. If carrying value exceeds fair value, a possible impairment exists and further evaluation is performed.

The Company determines its reporting units at the individual operating segment level, or one level below, when there is discrete financial information available that is regularly reviewed by segment management for evaluating operating results. For purposes of the Company's 2011 goodwill impairment test, the Company had twelve reporting units within its six reportable segments, five of which had goodwill.

The Company early adopted ASU 2011-8, and performed a one-step ("Step Zero") qualitative assessment for its 2011 annual goodwill impairment test. In conducting the qualitative assessment, the Company considers relevant events and circumstances that affect the fair value or carrying amount of a reporting unit. Such events and circumstances can include macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, overall financial performance, entity and reporting unit specific events, and capital markets pricing. The Company considers the extent to which each of the adverse events and circumstances identified affect the comparison of a reporting unit's fair value with its carrying amount. The Company places more weight on the events and circumstances that most affect a reporting unit's fair value or the carrying amount of its net assets. The Company considers positive and mitigating events and circumstances that may affect its determination of whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. The Company also considers recent valuations of its reporting units, including the difference between the most recent fair value estimate and the carrying amount. These factors are all considered by management in reaching its conclusion about whether to perform the first step of the goodwill impairment test. If management concludes that further testing is required, the Company would perform a quantitative valuation to estimate the fair value of its reporting units.

In prior years, before the qualitative assessment option issued under ASU 2011-8, the Company performed a quantitative valuation to estimate the fair value of its reporting units utilizing a combination of three valuation techniques: discounted cash flow (Income Approach), market comparable method (Market Approach) and market capitalization (Direct Market Data Method). The Income Approach is based on management's operating budget and internal five-year forecast. This approach utilizes forward-looking assumptions and projections, but considers factors unique to each of the Company's businesses and related long-range plans that may not be comparable to other companies and that are not yet publicly available. The Market Approach considers potentially comparable companies and transactions within the industries where the Company's reporting units participate, and applies their trading multiples to the Company's reporting units. This approach utilizes data from actual marketplace transactions, but reliance on its results is limited by difficulty in identifying companies that are specifically comparable to the Company's reporting units, considering the diversity of the Company's businesses, their relative sizes and levels of complexity. The Company also uses the Direct Market Data Method by comparing its book value and the estimates of fair value of the reporting units to the Company's market capitalization as of and at dates near the annual testing date. Management uses this comparison as additional evidence of the fair value of the Company, as its market capitalization may be suppressed by other factors such as the control premium associated with a controlling shareholder, the Company's high degree of leverage, and the limited float of the Company's common stock. Management evaluates and weights the results based on a combination of the Income and Market Approaches, and, in situations where the Income Approach results differ significantly from the Market and Direct Market Data Approaches, management re-evaluates and adjusts, if necessary, its assumptions.

For purposes of the indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment test, management utilizes the royalty relief method to estimate the fair value of its indefinite-lived intangible assets, basing the estimate on discounted future cash flows related to the net amount of royalty expenses avoided due to the existence of the trademark or tradename. Management then compares the estimated fair value to the carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds fair value, an impairment is recorded.

Self-insurance. The Company is generally self-insured for losses and liabilities related to workers' compensation, health and welfare claims and comprehensive general, product and vehicle liability. The Company is generally responsible for up to $0.5 million per occurrence under its retention program for workers' compensation, between $0.3 million and $2.0 million per occurrence under its retention programs for comprehensive general, product and vehicle liability, and has a $0.3 million per occurrence stop-loss limit with respect to its self-insured group medical plan. Total insurance limits under these retention programs vary by year for comprehensive general, product and vehicle liability and extend to the applicable statutory limits for workers' compensation. Reserves for claims losses, including an estimate of related litigation defense costs, are recorded based upon the Company's estimates of the aggregate liability for claims incurred using actuarial assumptions about future events. Changes in assumptions for factors such as medical costs and actual experience could cause these estimates to change.

Pension Plans and Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions. Annual net periodic pension expense and benefit liabilities under defined benefit pension plans are determined on an actuarial basis. Assumptions used in the actuarial calculations have a significant impact on plan obligations and expense. Annually, the Company reviews the actual experience compared to the more significant assumptions used and makes adjustments to the assumptions, if warranted. The healthcare trend rates are reviewed based upon actual claims experience. Discount rates are based upon an expected benefit payments duration analysis and the equivalent average yield rate for high-quality fixed-income investments. Pension benefits are funded through deposits with trustees and the expected long-term rate of return on fund assets is based upon actual historical returns modified for known changes in the market and any expected change in investment policy. Postretirement benefits are not funded and it is the Company's policy to pay these benefits as they become due.

Revenue Recognition. Revenues from product sales are recognized when products are shipped or services are provided to customers, the customer takes ownership and assumes risk of loss, the sales price is fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Net sales is comprised of gross revenues less estimates of expected returns, trade discounts and customer allowances, which include incentives such as cooperative advertising agreements, volume discounts and other supply agreements in connection with various programs. Such deductions are recorded during the period the related revenue is recognized.

Cost of Sales. Cost of sales includes material, labor and overhead costs incurred in the manufacture of products sold in the period. Material costs include raw material, purchased components, outside processing and inbound freight costs. Overhead costs consist of variable and fixed manufacturing costs, wages and fringe benefits, and purchasing, receiving and inspection costs.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses include the following: costs related to the advertising, sale, marketing and distribution of the Company's products, shipping and handling costs, amortization of customer intangible assets, costs of finance, human resources, legal functions, executive management costs and other administrative expenses.

Shipping and Handling Expenses. Freight costs are included in cost of sales and shipping and handling expenses, including those of Cequent North America's distribution network, are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statement of operations. Shipping and handling costs were $4.1 million, $4.0 million and $3.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Advertising and Sales Promotion Costs. Advertising and sales promotion costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs were approximately $7.6 million, $5.9 million and $4.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statement of operations.

Income Taxes. The Company computes income taxes using the asset and liability method, whereby deferred income taxes using current enacted tax rates are provided for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company determines valuation allowances based on an assessment of positive and negative evidence on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis and records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount more likely than not to be realized. The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. The Company records interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.

Foreign Currency Translation. The financial statements of subsidiaries located outside of the United States are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which they operate as the functional currency. Net foreign currency transaction gains (losses) were approximately $(1.2) million, $(1.1) million and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and are included in other expense, net in the accompanying statement of operations. When translating into U.S. dollars, income and expense items are translated at average monthly exchange rates and assets and liabilities are translated at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Translation adjustments resulting from translating the functional currency into U.S. dollars are deferred as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in the statement of shareholders' equity.

Derivative Financial Instruments. The Company records all derivative financial instruments at fair value on the balance sheet as either assets or liabilities, and changes in their fair values are immediately recognized in earnings if the derivatives do not qualify as effective hedges. If a derivative is designated as a fair value hedge, then changes in the fair value of the derivative are offset against the changes in the fair value of the underlying hedged item. If a derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, then the effective portion of the changes in the fair value of the derivative is recognized as a component of other comprehensive income until the underlying hedged item is recognized in earnings or the forecasted transaction is no longer probable of occurring. The Company formally documents hedging relationships for all derivative transactions and the underlying hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge transactions. See Note 12, "Derivative Instruments," for further information on the Company's financial instruments.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments. In accounting for and disclosing the fair value of these instruments, the Company uses the following hierarchy:


•	Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date;


•	Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly;


•	Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

Valuation of the interest rate swaps and foreign currency forward contracts are based on the income approach which uses observable inputs such as interest rate yield curves and forward currency exchange rates.

The carrying value of financial instruments reported in the balance sheet for current assets and current liabilities approximates fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments. The Company's term loan traded at 99.0% and 100.3% of par value as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company's senior secured notes traded at approximately 108.5% of par value as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The valuation of the term loan and senior secured notes was determined based on Level 2 inputs.

Earnings Per Share. Net earnings are divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year to calculate basic earnings per share. Diluted earnings per share are calculated to give effect to stock options and other stock-based awards. The calculation of diluted earnings per share included 130,314, 118,841 and 64,882 restricted shares for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Options to purchase 1,271,149, 1,742,086, and 1,839,344 shares of common stock were outstanding at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The calculation of diluted earnings per share included 403,090, 554,974 and 337,629 options to purchase shares of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively.

Stock-based Compensation. The Company recognizes compensation expense related to equity awards based on their fair values as of the grant date.

Other Comprehensive Income. The Company refers to other comprehensive income as revenues, expenses, gains and losses that under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States are included in comprehensive income but are excluded from net earnings as these amounts are recorded directly as an adjustment to stockholders' equity. Other comprehensive income is comprised of foreign currency translation adjustments, amortization of prior service costs and unrecognized gains and losses in actuarial assumptions and changes in unrealized gains and losses on derivatives.

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31 are as follows:



	2011			2010
	(dollars in thousands)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	$	49,450		$	53,040
Unrecognized prior service cost and unrecognized loss in actuarial assumptions	(9,870		)	(6,750		)
Unrealized loss on derivatives	—			(230		)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	$	39,580		$	46,060

Reclassifications. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.