Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include Belden Inc. and all of its subsidiaries (the Company, Belden, us, we, or our). We eliminate all significant affiliate accounts and transactions in consolidation.

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements presented as of any date other than December 31, 2012:

— Are prepared from the books and records without audit, and

— Are prepared in accordance with the instructions for Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete statements, but

— Include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial statements.

These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data contained in our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Reporting Periods

Reporting Periods

Our fiscal year and fiscal fourth quarter both end on December 31. Our fiscal first quarter ends on the Sunday falling closest to 91 days after December 31, which was March 31, 2013, the 90th day of our fiscal year 2013. Our fiscal second quarter has 91 days and ended on June 30, 2013. Our fiscal third quarter has 91 days and will end on September 29, 2013. The six months ended June 30, 2013 and July 1, 2012 included 181 and 183 days, respectively.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications

We have made certain reclassifications to the 2012 Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements with no impact to reported net income in order to conform to the 2013 presentation, primarily related to discontinued operations of a disposed business.

Fair Value Measurement

Fair Value Measurement

Accounting guidance for fair value measurements specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based upon whether the inputs to those valuation techniques reflect assumptions other market participants would use based upon market data obtained from independent sources or reflect our own assumptions of market participant valuation. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the reliability of the inputs as follows:

• Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets that are unadjusted and accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;

• Level 2 – Quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or financial instruments for which significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly;

• Level 3 – Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

As of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 and July 1, 2012, we utilized Level 1 inputs to determine the fair value of cash equivalents. We did not have any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements during the year.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We classify cash on hand and deposits in banks, including commercial paper, money market accounts, and other investments with an original maturity of three months or less, that we hold from time to time, as cash and cash equivalents. We periodically have cash equivalents consisting of short-term money market funds and other investments. The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve our capital for the purpose of funding operations. We do not enter into investments for trading or speculative purposes. The fair value of these cash equivalents as of June 30, 2013 was $260.5 million and is based on quoted market prices in active markets (i.e., Level 1 valuation).

Contingent Liabilities

Contingent Liabilities

We have established liabilities for environmental and legal contingencies that are probable of occurrence and reasonably estimable, the amounts of which are currently not material. We accrue environmental remediation costs based on estimates of known environmental remediation exposures developed in consultation with our environmental consultants and legal counsel. We are, from time to time, subject to routine litigation incidental to our business. These lawsuits primarily involve claims for damages arising out of the use of our products, allegations of patent or trademark infringement, and litigation and administrative proceedings involving employment matters and commercial disputes. Based on facts currently available, we believe the disposition of the claims that are pending or asserted will not have a materially adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flow.

As of June 30, 2013, we were party to standby letters of credit, bank guaranties, and surety bonds totaling $7.0 million, $4.7 million, and $1.7 million, respectively.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue when all of the following circumstances are satisfied: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (2) price is fixed or determinable, (3) collectability is reasonably assured, and (4) delivery has occurred. Delivery occurs in the period in which the customer takes title and assumes the risks and rewards of ownership of the products specified in the customer’s purchase order or sales agreement. At times, we enter into arrangements that involve the delivery of multiple products. For these arrangements, revenue is allocated to each deliverable based on that element’s relative selling price and recognized based on the period of delivery for each element.

We record revenue net of estimated rebates, price allowances, invoicing adjustments, and product returns. We record revisions to these estimates in the period in which the facts that give rise to each revision become known.

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations

In 2012, we sold our Thermax and Raydex cable business, and the results of operations of Thermax and Raydex in 2012 are reported in discontinued operations. Operating results from discontinued operations for the three and six months ended July 1, 2012 include $25.8 million and $50.5 million, respectively, of revenues and $5.3 million and $12.1 million, respectively, of income before taxes from Thermax and Raydex.

In 2010, we completed the sale of Trapeze Networks, Inc. (Trapeze) for $152.1 million. At the time the transaction closed, we received $136.9 million in cash, and the remaining $15.2 million was placed in escrow as partial security for our indemnity obligations under the sale agreement. As of June 30, 2013, we have collected a partial settlement of $4.2 million from the escrow, and we remain in negotiations with the buyer of Trapeze regarding the status of the escrow and certain claims raised by the buyer. Based on the current status of the negotiations, the amount of the escrow receivable on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet is $3.8 million, which is our best estimate of the remaining amount to be collected.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events

We have evaluated subsequent events after the balance sheet date through the financial statement issuance date for appropriate accounting and disclosure.

Current-Year Adoption of Accounting Pronouncements

Current-Year Adoption of Accounting Pronouncements

On January 1, 2013, we adopted new accounting guidance issued by the FASB with regard to the presentation and disclosure of changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our financial statements.