Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
3 Months Ended
Apr. 04, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Interim Financial Statements
Interim Financial Statements.  The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements of Brunswick Corporation (Brunswick or the Company) have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  Therefore, certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements and related notes prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted.  Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation, including reclassifying certain prior year work-in-process inventory balances to raw materials. Additionally, certain prior year LIFO reserves have been reclassified from finished goods to work-in-process and raw materials to reflect a proportional allocation between inventory categories to conform to the current period presentation. The Company has also reclassified the effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents from Other, net in operating activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to conform to the current period presentation. As indicated in Note 2 – Discontinued Operations, Brunswick's results as discussed in the financial statements reflect continuing operations only, unless otherwise noted.

These financial statements should be read in conjunction with, and have been prepared in conformity with, the accounting principles reflected in the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Brunswick’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 (the 2014 Form 10-K).  These results include, in the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position of Brunswick as of April 4, 2015, December 31, 2014, and March 29, 2014, the results of operations for the three months ended April 4, 2015 and March 29, 2014, and the cash flows for the three months ended April 4, 2015 and March 29, 2014.  Due to the seasonality of Brunswick’s businesses, the interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the remainder of the year.

The Company maintains its financial records on the basis of a fiscal year ending on December 31, with the fiscal quarters spanning thirteen weeks, with the first quarter ending on the Saturday closest to the end of the first thirteen-week period.  The first quarter of fiscal year 2015 ended on April 4, 2015, and the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 ended on March 29, 2014.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent Accounting Pronouncements.  The Company evaluates the pronouncements of various authoritative accounting organizations, primarily the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), the SEC, and the Emerging Issues Task Force, to determine the impact of new pronouncements on GAAP and the impact on the Company.  The following are recent accounting pronouncements that have been adopted during the three months ended April 4, 2015, or will be adopted in future periods.

Debt Issuance Costs: In April 2015, the FASB amended the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) to change the presentation of debt issuance costs. The amendment requires debt issuance costs be presented on the balance sheet as a direct reduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability rather than as an asset. The amendment is to be applied retrospectively and is effective for fiscal years, and the interim periods thereafter, beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASC amendment, but does not expect it will have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Consolidation: In February 2015, the FASB amended the ASC to update certain requirements for determining whether a variable interest entity must be consolidated. The amendment is effective for fiscal years, and the interim periods thereafter, beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASC amendment, but does not expect it will have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Going Concern: In August 2014, the FASB amended the ASC to provide guidance on determining when and how an entity must disclose going concern uncertainties in its financial statements. The amendment requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity's ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date of issuance of an entity's financial statements. If there is substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern, an entity must provide certain footnote disclosures. The amendment is effective for fiscal years, and the interim periods thereafter, beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASC amendment, but does not expect it will have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition: In May 2014, the FASB and International Accounting Standards Board jointly issued a final standard on revenue recognition which outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. This standard will supersede most current revenue recognition guidance. Under the new standard, entities are required to identify the contract with a customer; identify the separate performance obligations in the contract; determine the transaction price; allocate the transaction price to the separate performance obligations in the contract; and recognize the appropriate amount of revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies each performance obligation. The standard is effective for fiscal years, and the interim periods within those years, beginning on or after January 1, 2017, however in April 2015, the FASB proposed a one year deferral of the effective date. Entities have the option of using either retrospective transition or a modified approach in applying the new standard. The Company is currently evaluating the approach it will use to apply the new standard and the impact that the adoption of the new standard will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Discontinued Operations: In April 2014, the FASB amended the ASC to raise the threshold for a disposal to qualify as a discontinued operation. Under the new guidance, a discontinued operation represents a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results. The guidance also expands the disclosures for discontinued operations, including new disclosures related to individually material disposals that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation. The amendment is effective for fiscal years, and the interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted only for disposals that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued. The Company adopted this amendment in 2015 and it did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Investments in Marketable Securities
The Company invests a portion of its cash reserves in marketable debt securities.  These investments are reported in Short-term investments in marketable securities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.  Furthermore, the debt securities have readily determinable market values and are being accounted for as available-for-sale investments.  These investments are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reflected in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, a component of Shareholders’ equity on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, on an after-tax basis.