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. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Interim Financial Statements
Interim Financial Statements.  The unaudited interim 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.

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 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the 2012 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 30, 2013, December 31, 2012, and March 31, 2012, the results of operations for the three months ended March 30, 2013 and March 31, 2012, and the cash flows for the three months ended March 30, 2013 and March 31, 2012.  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 and ending on the Saturday closest to the end of that thirteen-week period.  The first quarter of fiscal year 2013 ended on March 30, 2013, and the first quarter of fiscal year 2012 ended on March 31, 2012.
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 (EITF), 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 30, 2013, or will be adopted in future periods.

Comprehensive Income:  In February 2013, the FASB amended the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) to require entities to provide information about amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive income by component. The Company is required to present, either on the face of the financial statements or in the notes, the amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income to the respective line items in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. This amendment is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012. Refer to Note 12 – Comprehensive Income for the Company's disclosures as a result of adopting this amendment.

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities: In January 2013, the FASB amended the ASC to provide additional guidance on the scope of disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities. The additional guidance provided that only recognized derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and lending transactions would be subject to disclosure requirements. This amendment is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and retrospective application is required. The adoption of this amendment did not have an impact on the Company's disclosure or the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

Intangibles – Goodwill and Other:  In July 2012, the FASB amended the ASC to simplify how entities test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment.  The amendment to the ASC permits entities to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If based on this assessment, the Company concludes that it is not more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired, then performing the quantitative impairment test is unnecessary.  The amendment is effective for annual and interim indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012.  The Company adopted this amendment in 2013 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.