Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2010

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of significant accounting policies

Note 1 — Summary of significant accounting policies

Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Teleflex Incorporated and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). Intercompany transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in affiliates over which the Company has significant influence but not a controlling equity interest, including variable interest entities where the Company is not the primary beneficiary, are carried on the equity basis. Investments in affiliates over which the Company does not have significant influence are accounted for by the cost method of accounting. These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and include management’s estimates and assumptions that affect the recorded amounts.

Use of estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 net revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and cash equivalents: All highly liquid debt instruments with an original maturity of three months or less are classified as cash equivalents. The carrying value of cash equivalents approximates their current market value.

Accounts receivable: Accounts receivable represents amounts due from customers related to the sale of products and provision of services. An allowance for doubtful accounts is maintained and represents the Company’s estimate of probable losses on realization of the full receivable. The allowance is provided at such time that management believes reasonable doubt exists that such balances will be collected within a reasonable period of time. The allowance is based on the Company’s historical experience, the length of time an account is outstanding, the financial position of the customer and information provided by credit rating services. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $4.1 million and $7.1 million as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

Inventories: Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. The cost of the Company’s inventories is determined by the average cost method. Elements of cost in inventory include raw materials, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead. In estimating market value, the Company evaluates inventory for excess and obsolete quantities based on estimated usage and sales.

Property, plant and equipment: Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Costs incurred to develop internal-use computer software during the application development stage generally are capitalized. Costs of enhancements to internal-use computer software are capitalized, provided that these enhancements result in additional functionality. Other additions and those improvements which increase the capacity or lengthen the useful lives of the assets are also capitalized. With minor exceptions, straight-line composite lives for depreciation of property, plant and equipment are as follows: land improvements — 5 years; buildings — 30 years; machinery and equipment — 3 to 10 years; computer equipment and software — 3 to 5 years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the remaining lease periods. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

Goodwill and other intangible assets: Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized but are tested for impairment at least annually, during the fourth quarter or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Impairment losses, if any, are included in income from operations. The goodwill impairment test is applied to each of the Company’s reporting units. For purposes of this assessment, a reporting unit is the operating segment, or a business one level below that operating segment (the component level) if discrete financial information is prepared and regularly reviewed by segment management. However, components are aggregated as a single reporting unit if they have similar economic characteristics. The goodwill impairment test is applied using a two-step approach. In performing the first step, the Company calculates fair values of the various reporting units using equal weighting of two methods; one which estimates the discounted cash flows (“DCF”) of each of the reporting units based on projected earnings in the future (the Income Approach) and one which is based on sales of similar assets in actual transactions (the Market Approach). If the reporting unit carrying amount exceeds the fair value, the second step of the goodwill impairment test is performed to measure the amount of the impairment loss, if any. In the second step, the implied fair value of the goodwill is estimated as the fair value of the reporting unit used in the first step less the fair values of all net tangible and intangible assets of the reporting unit other than goodwill. If the carrying amount of the goodwill exceeds its implied fair market value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess, not to exceed the carrying amount of the goodwill. For other indefinite lived intangible assets, the impairment test consists of a comparison of the fair value of the intangible assets to their carrying amounts.

Intangible assets consisting of intellectual property, customer lists and distribution rights are being amortized over their estimated useful lives, which are as follows: intellectual property, 3 to 20 years; customer lists, 5 to 30 years; distribution rights, 3 to 22 years. The weighted average amortization period is approximately 14 years. Trade names of $326.1 million are considered indefinite lived. The Company periodically evaluates the reasonableness of the useful lives of these assets.

Long-lived assets: The ability to realize long-lived assets is evaluated when events or circumstances indicate a possible inability to recover their carrying amount. Such evaluation is based on various analyses, including undiscounted cash flow and profitability projections that incorporate, as applicable, the impact on the existing business. The analyses necessarily involve significant management judgment. Any impairment loss, if indicated, is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset.

Product warranty liability: The Company warrants to the original purchaser of certain of its products that it will, at its option, repair or replace, without charge, such products if they fail due to a manufacturing defect. Warranty periods vary by product. The Company has recourse provisions for certain products that would enable recovery from third parties for amounts paid under the warranty. The Company accrues for product warranties when, based on available information, it is probable that customers will make claims under warranties relating to products that have been sold, and a reasonable estimate of the costs (based on historical claims experience relative to sales) can be made.

Foreign currency translation: Assets and liabilities of non-domestic subsidiaries denominated in local currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange at the balance sheet date; income and expenses are translated at the average rates of exchange prevailing during the year. The resultant translation adjustments are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in equity.

Derivative financial instruments: The Company uses derivative financial instruments primarily for purposes of hedging exposures to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. All instruments are entered into for other than trading purposes. All derivatives are recognized on the balance sheet at fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded in earnings or other comprehensive income, based on whether the instrument is designated as part of a hedge transaction and, if so, the type of hedge transaction. Gains or losses on derivative instruments reported in other comprehensive income are reclassified to earnings in the period in which earnings are affected by the underlying hedged item. The ineffective portion of all hedges is recognized in current period earnings. If the hedging relationship ceases to be highly effective or it becomes probable that an expected transaction will no longer occur, gains or losses on the derivative are recorded in current period earnings.

Share-based compensation: The Company estimates the fair value of share-based awards on the date of grant using an option pricing model. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service periods. Share-based compensation expense is measured using a Black-Scholes option pricing model that takes into account highly subjective and complex assumptions. The expected life of options granted is derived from the vesting period of the award, as well as historical exercise behavior, and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. Expected volatility is based on a blend of historical volatility and implied volatility derived from publicly traded options to purchase the Company’s common stock, which the Company believes is more reflective of the market conditions and a better indicator of expected volatility than would be the case if the Company only used historical volatility. The risk-free interest rate is the implied yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term equal to the expected life of the option.

Share-based compensation expense for 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $8.8 million, $8.0 million and $7.5 million, respectively and is included in selling, general and administrative expenses. The total income tax benefit recognized for share-based compensation arrangements for 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $2.4 million, $2.3 million and $1.9 million, respectively.

As of December 31, 2010, unamortized share-based compensation cost related to non-vested stock options, net of expected forfeitures, was $5.6 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.9 years. Unamortized share-based compensation cost related to non-vested shares (restricted stock), net of expected forfeitures, was $8.0 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.85 years.

Share-based compensation expense recognized during a period is based on the value of the portion of stock-based awards that is ultimately expected to vest during the period less estimated forfeitures. Share-based compensation expense recognized in 2010, 2009 and 2008 included compensation expense for (1) share-based awards granted prior to, but not yet vested as of December 25, 2005, based on the fair value on the grant date estimated in accordance with the pro forma provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) topic 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation,” and (2) share-based awards granted subsequent to December 25, 2005, based on the fair value on the grant date estimated in accordance with the provisions of the Compensation-Stock Compensation topic. The topic requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant. To minimize fluctuations in share-based compensation expense, management reviews and revises the estimate of forfeitures for all share-based awards on a quarterly basis based on management’s expectation of the awards that will ultimately vest. In 2010, the Company issued 169,751 non-vested shares (restricted stock) the majority of which vest on the third anniversary of the grant date (cliff vesting).

Income taxes: The provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes. Under this approach, deferred taxes represent the future tax consequences expected to occur when the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid. The provision for income taxes represents income taxes paid or payable for the current year plus the change in deferred taxes during the year. Deferred taxes result from differences between the financial and tax bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities and are adjusted for changes in tax rates and tax laws when changes are enacted. Provision has been made for income taxes on unremitted earnings of subsidiaries and affiliates, except for subsidiaries in which earnings are deemed to be permanently re-invested.

Significant judgment is required in determining income tax provisions and in evaluating tax positions. The Company establishes additional provisions for income taxes when, despite the belief that tax positions are fully supportable, there remain certain positions that do not meet the minimum probability threshold, which is a tax position that is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority. In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are examined by various Federal, State and foreign tax authorities. The Company regularly assesses the potential outcomes of these examinations and any future examinations for the current or prior years in determining the adequacy of its provision for income taxes. Interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and income tax related penalties are both included in taxes on income from continuing operations. The Company periodically assesses the likelihood and amount of potential adjustments and adjusts the income tax provision, the current tax liability and deferred taxes in the period in which the facts that give rise to an adjustment become known.

Pensions and other postretirement benefits: The Company provides a range of benefits to eligible employees and retired employees, including pensions and postretirement healthcare. The Company records annual amounts relating to these plans based on calculations which include various actuarial assumptions such as discount rates, expected rates of return on plan assets, compensation increases, turnover rates and healthcare cost trend rates. The Company reviews its actuarial assumptions on an annual basis and makes modifications to the assumptions based on current rates and trends when appropriate. The effect of the modifications is generally amortized over future periods.

Restructuring costs: Restructuring costs, which include termination benefits, facility closure costs, contract termination costs and other restructuring costs are recorded at estimated fair value. Key assumptions in calculating the restructuring costs include the terms and payments that may be negotiated to terminate certain contractual obligations and the timing of employees leaving the company.

Revenue recognition: The Company recognizes revenues from product sales, including sales to distributors, or services provided when the following revenue recognition criteria are met: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the selling price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. This generally occurs when products are shipped, when services are rendered or upon customers’ acceptance. Revenues from product sales, net of estimated returns and other allowances based on historical experience and current trends, are recognized upon shipment of products to customers or distributors.

The Company’s normal policy is to accept returns only in cases in which the product is defective and covered under the Company’s standard warranty provisions. However, in the limited cases where an arrangement provides a right of return to the customer, including a distributor, the Company believes it has the ability to reasonably estimate the amount of returns based on its substantial historical experience with respect to these arrangements. The Company accrues any costs or losses that may be expected in connection with any returns in accordance with ASC topic 450, “Contingencies.” Revenues and cost of goods sold are reduced to reflect estimated returns.

Allowances for discounts and rebates related to customer incentive programs, which include discounts or rebates, are estimated and provided for in the period that the related sales are recorded. These allowances are recorded as a reduction of revenue.

Reclassifications: Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior years’ consolidated financial statements to conform to current year presentation. Certain financial information is presented on a rounded basis, which may cause minor differences.