Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2014
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.  The prior year presentation of consolidated Net earnings adjusted for the net loss from discontinued operations in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows has been reclassified to change the starting point of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows from "Net earnings from continuing operations" to "Net earnings" followed by "Less: net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax".

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 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (the 2013 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 March 29, 2014, December 31, 2013, and March 30, 2013, the results of operations for the three months ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013, and the cash flows for the three months ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013.  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 2014 ended on March 29, 2014, and the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 ended on March 30, 2013.
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 March 29, 2014, or will be adopted in future periods.

Discontinued Operations: In April 2014, the FASB amended the Accounting Standards Codification (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 is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of the ASC amendment.

Unrecognized Tax Benefit: In July 2013, the FASB amended the ASC to provide guidance on financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss (NOL) carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. The guidance states that entities should present an unrecognized tax benefit as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for an NOL or tax credit carryforward whenever the NOL or tax credit carryforward would be available to reduce the additional taxable income or tax due if the tax position is disallowed. The amendment is effective for fiscal years, and the interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this amendment in 2014 and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
Investments in Marketable Securities
The Company invests a portion of its cash reserves in marketable debt securities.  These investments, which have an original maturity of up to two years, are reported in either Short-term or Long-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 market 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.