Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Aug. 30, 2015

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its wholly-owned and majority-owned foreign and domestic subsidiaries are prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information.

Consolidated entities policy

The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

Fiscal period

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Sunday of November in each year, although the fiscal years of certain foreign subsidiaries end on November 30. Each quarter of both fiscal years 2015 and 2014 consists of 13 weeks, with the exception of the fourth quarter of 2014, which consisted of 14 weeks. All references to years relate to fiscal years rather than calendar years.

Subsequent events

Subsequent events have been evaluated through the issuance date of these financial statements.

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements. Estimates are based upon historical factors, current circumstances and the experience and judgment of the Company’s management. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis and may employ outside experts to assist in its evaluations. Changes in such estimates, based on more accurate future information, or different assumptions or conditions, may affect amounts reported in future periods.

New accounting pronouncements

There have been no developments to recently issued accounting standards, including the expected dates of adoption and estimated effects on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, from those disclosed in the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K, except for the following, which have been grouped by their effective dates for the Company:

First Quarter of 2017

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In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03, "Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs," ("ASU 2015-03"). ASU 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. In August 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-15, "Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements," ("ASU 2015-15"). ASU 2015-15 provides additional guidance to ASU 2015-03, which did not address presentation or subsequent measurement of debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements. ASU 2015-15 noted that the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of these standards will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

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In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-04, "Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Practical Expedient for the Measurement Date of an Employer's Defined Benefit Obligation and Plan Assets," ("ASU 2015-04"). ASU 2015-04 provides the use of a practical expedient that permits the entity to measure defined benefit plans assets and obligations using the month-end that is closest to the entity's fiscal year-end and apply that practical expedient consistently from year to year. Further, if a contribution or significant event occurs between the month-end date used to measure defined benefit plan asset and obligations and an entity's fiscal year-end, the entity should adjust the measurement of defined plan assets and obligations to reflect of those contributions of significant events. However, an entity should not adjust the measurement of defined benefit plan asset and obligations for other events that occur between the month-end measurement and the entity's fiscal year-end that are not caused by the entity. The Company is currently assessing whether to adopt this standard. Should the Company elect to adopt this standard, it does not anticipate that the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

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In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-05, "Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement," ("ASU 2015-05"). ASU 2015-05 provides guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software license. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The guidance will not change GAAP for a customer's accounting for service contracts. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

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In June 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-10, "Technical Corrections and Improvements," ("ASU 2015-10"). ASU 2015-10 covers a wide range of Topics in the Codification. The amendments in this Update represent changes to clarify the Codification, correct unintended application of guidance, or make minor improvements to the Codification that are not expected to have a significant effect on current accounting practice or create a significant administrative cost on most entities. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

First Quarter of 2018

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In July 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-11, "Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory," ("ASU 2015-11"). An entity using an inventory method other than last-in, first out ("LIFO") or the retail inventory method should measure inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The new guidance clarifies that net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

First Quarter of 2019

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In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)," ("ASU 2014-09"). ASU 2014-09 outlines a new, single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry specific guidance. This new revenue recognition model provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized. The new model will require revenue recognition to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration a company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-14, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date," ("ASU 2015-14"). The amendment in this update defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for all entities by one year. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting these new accounting standards will have on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.