Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include Belden Inc. and all of its subsidiaries (the Company, 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, 2013:

• 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 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Business Description

Business Description

We are an innovative signal transmission solutions provider built around four global business platforms – Broadcast Solutions, Enterprise Connectivity Solutions, Industrial Connectivity Solutions, and Industrial IT Solutions. Our comprehensive portfolio of signal transmission solutions provides industry leading secure and reliable transmission of data, sound and video for mission critical applications.

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 30, 2014, the 89th day of our fiscal year 2014. Our fiscal second and third quarters each have 91 days. The nine months ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013 included 271 and 272 days, respectively.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications

We have made certain reclassifications to the 2013 Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements with no impact to reported net income in order to conform to the 2014 presentation.

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; and

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

As of and during the three and nine months ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013, we utilized Level 1 inputs to determine the fair value of cash equivalents, and we utilized Level 3 inputs to determine the fair value of net assets acquired in business combinations (see Note 2). We did not have any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements during the nine months ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013.

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 September 28, 2014 was $132.7 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 September 28, 2014, we were party to standby letters of credit, bank guaranties, and surety bonds totaling $7.2 million, $2.2 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 elements. For these arrangements, when the elements can be separated, the 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. Generally, we determine relative selling price using our best estimate of selling price, as we do not have vendor specific objective evidence or third party evidence of fair value for such arrangements.

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 for $265.6 million in cash and recognized a pre-tax gain of $211.6 million ($124.7 million net of tax). At the time the transaction closed, we received $265.6 million in cash, subject to a working capital adjustment. We recognized a $0.9 million ($0.6 million net of tax) loss from disposal of discontinued operations related to this business in the nine months ended September 28, 2014 as a result of settling the working capital adjustment and other matters.

In 2010, we completed the sale of Trapeze Networks, Inc. (Trapeze) for $152.1 million and recognized a pre-tax gain of $88.3 million ($44.8 million net of tax). 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. In 2013, we collected a partial settlement of $4.2 million from the escrow. 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.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Current-Year Adoption of Accounting Pronouncements

On January 1, 2014, we adopted new accounting guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the FASB) with regard to the presentation of liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

Pending Adoption of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (the ASU), which will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP. The core principle of the ASU is that an entity should recognize revenue for the transfer of goods or services equal to the amount that it expects to be entitled to receive for those goods or services. The ASU requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments. The ASU will be effective for us beginning January 1, 2017, and allows for both retrospective and modified retrospective methods of adoption. We are in the process of determining the method of adoption and assessing the impact of this ASU on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued disclosure guidance that requires us to evaluate, at each annual and interim period, whether substantial doubt exists about our ability to continue as a going concern, and if applicable, to provide related disclosures. The new guidance will be effective for us for the year ending December 31, 2016. This guidance is not currently expected to have a material effect on our financial statement disclosures upon adoption, although the ultimate impact will be dependent on our financial condition and expected operating outlook at such time.