(1) Description of Business
Rayovac Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries
(Company) manufacture and market batteries. Products
include general (alkaline, rechargeables, heavy duty, lantern
and general purpose), button cell and lithium batteries. The
Company also produces a variety of battery powered lighting
devices such as flashlights and lanterns. The Companys prod-
ucts are sold primarily to retailers in the United States,
Canada, Latin America, Europe, and the Far East.
(2) Significant Accounting Policies and Practices
(a.)Principles of Consolidation and Fiscal Year End.The
consolidated financial statements include the financial state-
ments of Rayovac Corporation and its wholly owned sub-
sidiaries and are prepared in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The
Companys fiscal year ends September 30. References herein
to 1999, 2000 and 2001 refer to the fiscal years ended
September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
(b.)Revenue Recognition.The Company recognizes revenue
from product sales upon shipment to the customer which is
the point at which all risks and rewards of ownership of the
product is passed. The Company is not obligated to allow
for returns.
In December 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission
issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 101, Revenue
Recognition. An amendment in June 2000 delayed the effec-
tive date until the Companys fourth quarter of fiscal 2001.
The adoption of SAB 101 did not have an impact on the con-
solidated financial statements.
(c.)Use of Estimates.The preparation of financial statements
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclo-
sure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the finan-
cial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could
differ from those estimates.
At the beginning of 2000, the Company made certain changes
in accounting estimates including a change in the estimated
useful life of permanent fixtures provided to retail outlets
which will now be amortized over an estimated useful life of
one to two years rather than expensed when shipped. In addi-
tion, the Company began expensing maintenance materials
when used rather than when purchased. These changes in
estimates increased 2000 and 2001 net income by $2,500 and
$3,200 versus 1999, respectively.
(d.)Cash Equivalents.For purposes of the statements of
cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt
instruments purchased with original maturities of three
months or less to be cash equivalents.
(e.)Concentrations of Credit Risk,Major Customers and
Employees.The Company has one customer that repre-
sented over 10% of its net sales. The Company derived 20%,
21% and 26% of its net sales from this customer during 1999,
2000 and 2001, respectively.
A significant number of the Companys factory employees are
represented by labor unions. The Company believes its rela-
tionship with its employees is good and there have been no
work stoppages involving Company employees since 1981 in
North America and since 1991 in the United Kingdom.
The Company has entered into collective bargaining agree-
ments with expiration dates as follows:
Location
Expiration Date
Washington, UK Production
November 2001
Mexico City, Mexico
February 2002
Portage, WI
July 2002
Hayward, CA
June 2002
Madison, WI
August 2003
Guatemala City, Guatemala
March 2004
Fennimore, WI
March 2005
Approximately 45% of the total labor force is covered by col-
lective bargaining agreements. Bargaining agreements that
expire in 2002 represent approximately 16% of the total labor
force. Negotiations are ongoing to extend the agreement cov-
ering approximately 90 employees at our Washington, UK
production facility. The existing agreement provides for auto-
matic weekly renewals and the Company anticipates an agree-
ment will be finalized in the second quarter of fiscal 2002.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Rayovac Corporation and Subsidiaries
(In thousands, except per share amounts)