The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. 2009 Annual Report

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") as continuing operations, with the exception of the operating results of its reporting unit that marketed and sold Stila brand products, which have been reflected as discontinued operations for fiscal 2007. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Certain amounts in the consolidated financial statements of prior years have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation for comparative purposes.

In preparing these consolidated financial statements, the Company has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through August 19, 2009, the date the consolidated financial statements were issued.

Management Estimates
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") 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 revenues and expenses reported in those financial statements. Certain significant accounting policies that contain subjective management estimates and assumptions include those related to revenue recognition, inventory, pension and other post-retirement benefit costs, goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, income taxes and derivatives. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, and makes adjustments when facts and circumstances dictate. Illiquid credit markets, volatile equity, foreign currency and declines in consumer spending have combined to increase the uncertainty inherent in such estimates and assumptions. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from those estimates and assumptions. Changes in those estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the consolidated financial statements in future periods.

Currency Translation and Transactions
All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries and affiliates are translated at year-end rates of exchange, while revenue and expenses are translated at weighted average rates of exchange for the year. Unrealized translation gains or losses are reported as cumulative translation adjustments through other comprehensive income (loss). Such adjustments amounted to $139.1 million of unrealized translation losses, net of tax, in fiscal 2009 and $98.3 million and $53.1 million of unrealized translation gains, net of tax, in fiscal 2008 and 2007, respectively.

The Company enters into foreign currency forward and option contracts to hedge foreign currency transactions for periods consistent with its identified exposures. Accordingly, the Company categorizes these instruments as entered into for purposes other than trading.

The accompanying consolidated statements of earnings include net exchange gains (losses) of $(20.0) million, $3.9 million and $(0.6) million in fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include $239.8 million and $66.6 million of short-term time deposits at June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Approximately 20% and 14% of the Company's cash and cash equivalents are held by two counterparties.

Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable is stated net of the allowance for doubtful accounts and customer deductions of $41.4 million and $26.3 million as of June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. This reserve is based upon the evaluation of accounts receivable aging, specific exposures and historical trends.

Inventory and Promotional Merchandise
Inventory and promotional merchandise only includes inventory considered saleable or usable in future periods, and is stated at the lower of cost or fair-market value, with cost being determined on the first-in, first-out method. Cost components include raw materials, componentry, direct labor and overhead (e.g., indirect labor, utilities, depreciation, purchasing, receiving, inspection and warehousing) as well as inbound freight. Manufacturing overhead is allocated to the cost of inventory based on the normal production capacity. Unallocated overhead during periods of abnormally low production levels are recognized as cost of sales in the period in which they are incurred. Promotional merchandise is charged to expense at the time the merchandise is shipped to the Company's customers. Included in inventory and promotional merchandise is an inventory obsolescence reserve, which represents the difference between the cost of the inventory and its estimated realizable value, based on various product sales projections. This reserve is calculated using an estimated obsolescence percentage applied to the inventory based on age, historical trends and requirements to support forecasted sales. In addition, and as necessary, specific reserves for future known or anticipated events may be established.

Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company's derivative financial instruments are recorded as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet and measured at fair value. All derivatives outstanding as of June 30, 2009 are (i) designated as a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment ("fair-value" hedge), (ii) designated as a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability ("foreign currency cashflow" hedge), or (iii) not designated as a hedging instrument. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated and qualifies as a fair-value hedge that is highly effective are recorded in current-period earnings, along with the loss or gain on the hedged asset or liability that is attributable to the hedged risk (including losses or gains on unrecognized firm commitments). Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated and qualifies as a foreign currency cash-flow hedge of a foreign-currency-denominated forecasted transaction that is highly effective are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) ("OCI"). Gains and losses deferred in OCI are then recognized in current-period earnings when earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows of the hedged foreign-currency-denominated forecasted transaction (e.g., when periodic settlements on a variable-rate asset or liability are recorded in earnings). Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments are reported in current-period earnings.

Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment, including leasehold and other improvements that extend an asset's useful life or productive capabilities, are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Costs incurred for computer software developed or obtained for internal use are capitalized during the application development stage and expensed as incurred during the preliminary project and post-implementation stages. For financial statement purposes, depreciation is provided principally on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from 3 to 40 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lives of the respective leases or the expected useful lives of those improvements.

Investments
The Company's investments consist principally of available-for-sale securities and equity-method investments. Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value. Unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related tax effect, on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and are reported as a component of stockholders' equity until realized. Investments in affiliated companies, which are not controlled by the Company but where the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence over, are accounted for using the equity-method where the earnings and losses attributable to the investment are recorded in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings.

Goodwill and Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets
Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the cost of purchased businesses over the fair value of their underlying net assets. Other indefinite-lived intangible assets principally consist of trademarks. Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized.

The Company assesses goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangibles at least annually for impairment as of the beginning of the fiscal fourth quarter, or more frequently if certain events or circumstances warrant. The Company tests goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is one level below the Company's operating segments. The Company identifies its reporting units by assessing whether the components of its operating segments constitute businesses for which discrete financial information is available and management of each reporting unit regularly reviews the operating results of those components. Impairment testing is performed in two steps: (i) the Company determines impairment by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying value, and (ii) if there is an impairment, the Company measures the amount of impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. The impairment test for indefinite-lived intangible assets encompasses calculating a fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset and comparing the fair value to its carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, impairment is recorded.

Testing goodwill for impairment requires the Company to estimate fair values of reporting units using significant estimates and assumptions. The assumptions made will impact the outcome and ultimate results of the testing. The Company uses industry accepted valuation models and set criteria that are reviewed and approved by various levels of management and, in certain instances, the Company engages third-party valuation specialists to advise it. To determine fair value of the reporting unit, the Company generally uses an equal weighting of the income and market approaches. In certain circumstances, equal weighting will not be applied if one of these methods may be less reliable (e.g., only the income approach would be used for reporting units with existing negative margins). The Company believes both approaches are equally relevant and the most reliable indications of fair value because the fair value of product or service companies is more dependent on the ability to generate earnings than on the value of the assets used in the production process.

Under the income approach, the Company determines fair value using a discounted cash flow method, estimating future cash flows of each reporting unit, as well as terminal value, and discounting such cash flows at a rate of return that reflects the relative risk of the cash flows. Under the market approach, the Company utilizes information from comparable publicly traded companies with similar operating and investment characteristics as the reporting units, which creates valuation multiples that are applied to the operating performance of the reporting unit being tested, to value the reporting unit. The key estimates and factors used in these two approaches include, but are not limited to, revenue growth rates and profit margins based on internal forecasts, terminal value, the weighted-average cost of capital used to discount future cash flows and comparable market multiples.

To determine fair value of other indefinite-lived intangible assets, the Company uses an income approach, the relief-from-royalty method. This method assumes that, in lieu of ownership, a third party would be willing to pay a royalty in order to obtain the rights to use the comparable asset. Other indefinite-lived intangible assets' fair values require significant judgments in determining both the assets' estimated cash flows as well as the appropriate discount and royalty rates applied to those cash flows to determine fair value. Changes in such estimates or the application of alternative assumptions could produce significantly different results.

Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. When such events or changes in circumstances occur, a recoverability test is performed comparing projected undiscounted cash flows from the use and eventual disposition of an asset or asset group to its carrying value. If the projected undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value, an impairment would be recorded for the excess of the carrying value over the fair value, which is determined by discounting future cash flows.

Concentration of Credit Risk
The Company is a worldwide manufacturer, marketer and distributor of skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. Domestic and international sales are made primarily to department stores, perfumeries and specialty retailers. The Company grants credit to all qualified customers and does not believe it is exposed significantly to any undue concentration of credit risk.

The Company's largest customer sells products primarily within the United States and accounted for $907.3 million, or 12%, $951.4 million, or 12%, and $958.8 million, or 14%, of the Company's consolidated net sales in fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. This customer accounted for $97.1 million and $109.2 million, or 11%, of the Company's accounts receivable at June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Revenue Recognition
Revenues from merchandise sales are recognized upon transfer of ownership, including passage of title to the customer and transfer of the risk of loss related to those goods. In the Americas region, sales are generally recognized at the time the product is shipped to the customer and in the Europe, the Middle East & Africa and Asia/Pacific regions sales are generally recognized based upon the customer's receipt. In certain circumstances, transfer of title takes place at the point of sale, for example, at the Company's retail stores. Sales at the Company's retail stores and online are recognized in accordance with a traditional 4-4-5 retail calendar, where each fiscal quarter is comprised of two 4-week periods and one 5-week period, with one extra week in one quarter every seven years. As a result, the retail quarter-end and the fiscal quarter-end may be different by up to six days.

Revenues are reported on a net sales basis, which is computed by deducting from gross sales the amount of actual product returns received, discounts, incentive arrangements with retailers and an amount established for anticipated product returns. The Company's practice is to accept product returns from retailers only if properly requested, authorized and approved. In accepting returns, the Company typically provides a credit to the retailer against accounts receivable from that retailer. As a percentage of gross sales, returns were 4.4%, 4.4% and 4.2% in fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Payments to Customers
The Company records revenues generated from purchase with purchase promotions as sales and the costs of its purchase with purchase and gift with purchase promotions as cost of sales. Certain other incentive arrangements require the payment of a fee to customers based on their attainment of pre-established sales levels. These fees have been recorded as a reduction of Net sales in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings and were not material to the results of operations in any period presented.

The Company enters into transactions related to advertising, product promotions and demonstrations, some of which involve cooperative relationships with customers. These activities may be arranged either with unrelated third parties or in conjunction with the customer. The Company's share of the cost of these transactions (regardless of to whom they were paid) are reflected in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings and were approximately $1,074 million, $1,098 million and $978 million in fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Advertising and Promotion
Global net expenses for advertising, merchandising, sampling and promotion were $1,878.8 million, $2,034.6 million and $1,841.9 million in fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and are expensed as incurred. These amounts include activities relating to purchase with purchase and gift with purchase promotions that are reflected in net sales and cost of sales. Excluding the impact of purchase with purchase and gift with purchase promotions, advertising, merchandising, sampling and promotion expenses included in operating expenses were $1,693.1 million, $1,836.1 million and $1,640.9 million in fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Research and Development
Research and development costs amounted to $81.6 million, $80.9 million and $74.4 million in fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

Shipping and Handling
Shipping and handling expenses of $268.6 million, $284.4 million and $237.9 million in fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively, are recorded in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings and include distribution center costs, third party logistics costs and outbound freight.

Operating Leases
The Company recognizes rent expense from operating leases with periods of free and scheduled rent increases on a straight-line basis over the applicable lease term. The Company considers lease renewals in the useful life of its leasehold improvements when such renewals are reasonably assured. From time to time, the Company may receive capital improvement funding from its lessors. These amounts are recorded as deferred liabilities and amortized over the remaining lease term as a reduction of rent expense.

License Arrangements
The Company's license agreements provide the Company with worldwide rights to manufacture, market and sell beauty and beauty-related products (or particular categories thereof) using the licensors' trademarks. The licenses typically have an initial term of approximately 3 years to 11 years, and are renewable subject to the Company's compliance with the license agreement provisions. The remaining terms, including the potential renewal periods, range from approximately 2 years to 21 years. Under each license, the Company is required to pay royalties to the licensor, at least annually, based on net sales to third parties.

Most of the Company's licenses were entered into to create new business. In some cases, the Company acquired, or entered into, a license where the licensor or another licensee was operating a pre-existing beauty products business. In those cases, intangible assets are capitalized and amortized over their useful lives based on the terms of the agreement and are subject to impairment testing if certain events or circumstances indicate a potential impairment.

Certain license agreements may require minimum royalty payments, incremental royalties based on net sales levels and minimum spending on advertising and promotional activities. Royalty expenses are accrued in the period in which net sales are recognized while advertising and promotional expenses are accrued at the time these costs are incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation
The Company records stock-based compensation, measured at the fair value of the award, as an expense in the consolidated financial statements. Upon the exercise of stock options or the vesting of restricted stock units and performance share units, the resulting excess tax benefits, if any, are credited to additional paid-in capital. Any resulting tax deficiencies will first be offset against those cumulative credits to additional paid-in capital. Once the cumulative credits to additional paid-in capital are exhausted, tax deficiencies will be recorded to the provision for income taxes. Excess tax benefits are required to be reflected as financing cash inflows in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows.

Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes using an asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in its financial statements or tax returns. The net deferred tax assets assume sufficient future earnings for their realization, as well as the continued application of currently anticipated tax rates. Included in net deferred tax assets is a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, where management believes it is more-likely-than-not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized in the relevant jurisdiction. Based on the Company's assessments, no additional valuation allowance is required. If the Company determines that a deferred tax asset will not be realizable, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset will result in a reduction of net earnings at that time.

The Company adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Interpretation No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109" on July 1, 2007. As a result, the Company recognized an increase in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits and interest of $13.1 million (after tax) as an adjustment to opening retained earnings. The Company provides tax reserves for Federal, state, local and international exposures relating to periods subject to audit. The development of reserves for these exposures requires judgments about tax issues, potential outcomes and timing, and is a subjective critical estimate. The Company assesses its tax positions and records tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon management's evaluation of the facts, circumstances, and information available at the reporting dates. For those tax positions where it is more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will be sustained, the Company has recorded the largest amount of tax benefit with a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement with a tax authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. For those tax positions where it is not more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the financial statements. The Company classifies applicable interest and penalties as a component of the provision for income taxes. Although the outcome relating to these exposures is uncertain, in management's opinion adequate provisions for income taxes have been made for estimable potential liabilities emanating from these exposures. In certain circumstances, the ultimate outcome of exposures and risks involves significant uncertainties which render them inestimable. If actual outcomes differ materially from these estimates, they could have a material impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations.

Out-of-period Adjustments
The Company evaluates out-of-period adjustments based on their impact on the current year statement of earnings as well as the cumulative effect of adjustments in the current year's ending balance sheet. Out-of-period adjustments identified and recorded in the accompanying statements of earnings during fiscal 2009 and 2008 were not material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Company's consolidated financial statements for all fiscal years affected. In fiscal 2007 and in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, "Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements," the Company elected to record a one-time cumulative effect adjustment of $24.2 million to opening retained earnings to correct errors in certain balance sheet accounts that arose in previous years.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In May 2009, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 165, "Subsequent Events" ("SFAS No. 165"). SFAS No. 165 requires the disclosure of the date through which an entity has evaluated subsequent events for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements and whether that date represents the date the financial statements were issued or were available to be issued. This standard also provides clarification about circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements and the disclosures that an entity should make about events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date. This standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning with the Company's fiscal year ended June 30, 2009. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, "Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities-an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133" ("SFAS No. 161"). SFAS No. 161 requires companies to provide qualitative disclosures about their objectives and strategies for using derivative instruments, quantitative disclosures of the fair values of, and gains and losses on, these derivative instruments in a tabular format, as well as more information about liquidity by requiring disclosure of a derivative contract's credit-risk-related contingent features. SFAS No. 161 also requires cross-referencing within footnotes to enable financial statement users to locate important information about derivative instruments. The Company adopted this disclosure-only standard beginning in its fiscal 2009 third quarter (see Note 11).

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" ("SFAS No. 157"), to clarify the definition of fair value, establish a framework for measuring fair value and expand the disclosures on fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price). SFAS No. 157 also stipulates that, as a market-based measurement, fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, and establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between (a) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs) and (b) the reporting entity's own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs).

In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position ("FSP") No. FAS 157-1, "Application of FASB Statement No. 157 to FASB Statement No. 13 and Other Accounting Pronouncements That Address Fair Value Measurements for Purposes of Lease Classification or Measurement under Statement 13." This FSP amends SFAS No. 157 to exclude certain leasing transactions accounted for under previously existing accounting guidance. However, this scope exception does not apply to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination, regardless of whether those assets and liabilities are related to leases.

In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 157-2, "Effective Date for FASB Statement No. 157" ("FSP No. FAS 157-2"). This FSP permits the delayed application of SFAS No. 157 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, as defined in this FSP, except for those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements at least annually, until the beginning of the Company's fiscal 2010. As of July 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157 (see Note 12), with the exception of its application to nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, which the Company will defer in accordance with FSP No. FAS 157-2 until the beginning of fiscal 2010. Nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities principally consist of intangible assets acquired through business combinations, long-lived assets when assessing potential impairment, and liabilities associated with restructuring activities. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions for such nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities on its consolidated financial statements.

In October 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 157-3, "Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active" ("FSP No. FAS 157-3"), which clarifies the application of SFAS No. 157 in a market that is not active and provides an example to illustrate key considerations in determining the fair value of a financial asset when the market for that financial asset is not active. The FSP is effective upon issuance, including prior periods for which financial statements have not been issued. Revisions resulting from a change in the valuation technique or its application should be accounted for as a change in accounting estimate following the guidance in SFAS No. 154, "Accounting Changes and Error Corrections" ("SFAS No. 154"). However, the disclosure provisions in SFAS No. 154 for a change in accounting estimate are not required for revisions resulting from a change in valuation technique or its application. The Company adopted SFAS No. 157 beginning in its fiscal 2009 first quarter. As part of this adoption, the Company evaluated the fair value measurements of its financial assets and liabilities and determined that these instruments are valued in active markets. As such, the guidance in this FSP did not impact the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 157-4, "Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly" ("FSP No. FAS 157-4"). This FSP provides additional guidance for estimating fair value in accordance with SFAS No. 157 when there has been a significant decrease in market activity for a financial asset. An entity is required to base its conclusion about whether a transaction was distressed on the weight of the evidence presented. This FSP also re-affirms that the objective of fair value, when the market for an asset is not active, is the price that would be received to sell the asset in an orderly market (as opposed to a distressed or forced transaction). Additional enhanced disclosures are also required in accordance with this FSP. FSP No. FAS 157-4 must be applied prospectively and is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of this standard did not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements as its financial assets are currently valued in active markets.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities" ("SFAS No. 159"), to permit all entities to choose to elect, at specified election dates, to measure eligible financial instruments at fair value. An entity shall report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date, and recognize upfront costs and fees related to those items in earnings as incurred and not deferred. SFAS No. 159 became effective for the Company as of July 1, 2008. As the Company did not elect the fair value option for its financial instruments, the adoption of this standard did not have an impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 168, "The FASB Accounting Standards Codification™ and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles" ("SFAS No. 168"). SFAS No. 168 establishes the FASB Accounting Standards Codification™ (the "Codification") as the single source of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities. Rules and interpretive releases of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative U.S. GAAP for SEC registrants. SFAS No. 168 and the Codification become effective for the Company's September 30, 2009 interim consolidated financial statements. The Company does not expect SFAS No. 168 or the Codification to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 167, "Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)" ("SFAS No. 167"). SFAS No. 167 eliminates the exception to consolidate a qualifying special-purpose entity, changes the approach to determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity and requires companies to more frequently reassess whether they must consolidate variable interest entities. Under the new guidance, the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity is identified qualitatively as the enterprise that has both (a) the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance, and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity. SFAS No. 167 becomes effective for the Company's fiscal 2011 year-end and interim reporting periods thereafter. The Company does not expect SFAS No. 167 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, "Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments," principally to require publicly traded companies to provide disclosures about fair value of financial instruments in interim financial information. The adoption of this disclosure-only guidance will not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial results and is effective beginning with its fiscal 2010 interim period ending September 30, 2009.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 141(R)-1, "Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination That Arise from Contingencies," to require that assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination that arise from contingencies be recognized at fair value if fair value can be reasonably determined. If the fair value of such assets or liabilities cannot be reasonably determined, then they would generally be recognized in accordance with SFAS No. 5, "Accounting for Contingencies" and FASB Interpretation No. 14, "Reasonable Estimation of the Amount of a Loss-an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 5." This FSP also amends the subsequent accounting for assets and liabilities arising from contingencies in a business combination and certain other disclosure requirements. This FSP is effective for assets or liabilities arising from contingencies in business combinations that are consummated during the Company's fiscal 2010.

In December 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 132(R)-1, "Employers' Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets" ("FSP No. FAS 132(R)-1") to require employers to provide additional disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other post-retirement plan. These disclosures should principally include information detailing investment policies and strategies, the major categories of plan assets, the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets and an understanding of significant concentrations of risk within plan assets. While earlier application of the provisions of this FSP is permitted, the disclosures required by this FSP shall be provided for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009 (or the Company's fiscal 2010, the anticipated period of adoption). Upon initial application, the provisions of this FSP are not required for earlier periods that are presented for comparative purposes.

In November 2008, the FASB ratified the consensus reached on Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") Issue No. 08-7, "Accounting for Defensive Intangible Assets" ("EITF No. 08-7"). Defensive intangible assets are assets acquired in a business combination that the acquirer (a) does not intend to use or (b) intends to use in a way other than the assets' highest and best use as determined by an evaluation of market participant assumptions. While defensive intangible assets are not being actively used, they are likely contributing to an increase in the value of other assets owned by the acquiring entity. EITF No. 08-7 will require defensive intangible assets to be accounted for as separate units of accounting at the time of acquisition and the useful life of such assets would be based on the period over which the assets will directly or indirectly affect the entity's cash flows. This Issue would be applied prospectively for defensive intangible assets acquired on or after the beginning of the Company's fiscal 2010, in order to coincide with the effective date of SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), "Business Combinations" ("SFAS No. 141(R)").

In November 2008, the FASB ratified the consensus reached on EITF Issue No. 08-6, "Accounting for Equity Method Investment Considerations" ("EITF No. 08-6"). EITF No. 08-6 addresses questions about the potential effect of SFAS No. 141(R) and SFAS No. 160, "Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements-an amendment of ARB No. 51" ("SFAS No. 160") on equity-method accounting. The primary issues include how the initial carrying value of an equity method investment should be determined, how to account for any subsequent purchases and sales of additional ownership interests, and whether the investor must separately assess its underlying share of the investee's indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. The effective date of EITF No. 08-6 coincides with that of SFAS No. 141(R) and SFAS No. 160 and is to be applied on a prospective basis beginning in the Company's fiscal 2010. Early adoption is not permitted for entities that previously adopted an alternate accounting policy.

In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 142-3, "Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets" ("FSP No. FAS 142-3"). This FSP amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" ("SFAS No. 142"). This FSP also adds certain disclosures to those already prescribed in SFAS No. 142. FSP No. FAS 142-3 becomes effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning in the Company's fiscal 2010. The guidance for determining useful lives must be applied prospectively to intangible assets acquired after the effective date. The disclosure requirements must be applied prospectively to all intangible assets recognized as of the effective date.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R). SFAS No. 141(R) replaces SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations," however, it retains the fundamental requirements of the former Statement that the acquisition method of accounting (previously referred to as the purchase method) be used for all business combinations and for an acquirer to be identified for each business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) defines the acquirer as the entity that obtains control of one or more businesses in the business combination and establishes the acquisition date as the date that the acquirer achieves control. Among other requirements, SFAS No. 141(R) requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at their acquisition-date fair values, with limited exceptions; acquisition-related costs generally will be expensed as incurred. SFAS No. 141(R) requires certain financial statement disclosures to enable users to evaluate and understand the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) must be applied prospectively to business combinations that are consummated on or after July 1, 2009.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160 to establish accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. Among other requirements, SFAS No. 160 clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary, which is sometimes referred to as minority interest, is to be reported as a separate component of equity in the consolidated financial statements. SFAS No. 160 also requires consolidated net income to include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interest and to disclose those amounts on the face of the consolidated statement of earnings. SFAS No. 160 must be applied prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning in the Company's fiscal 2010, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements, which will be applied retrospectively for all periods presented.

In December 2007, the FASB ratified the consensus reached on EITF Issue No. 07-1, "Collaborative Arrangements," ("EITF No. 07-1"). This Issue addresses accounting for collaborative arrangement activities that are conducted without the creation of a separate legal entity for the arrangement. Revenues and costs incurred with third parties in connection with the collaborative arrangement should be presented gross or net by the collaborators pursuant to the guidance in EITF Issue No. 99-19, "Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent," and other applicable accounting literature. Payments to or from collaborators should be presented in the income statement based on the nature of the arrangement, the nature of the company's business and whether the payments are within the scope of other accounting literature. Other detailed information related to the collaborative arrangement is also required to be disclosed. The requirements under this Issue must be applied to collaborative arrangements in existence at the beginning of the Company's fiscal 2010 using a modified version of retrospective application. The Company is currently not a party to significant collaborative arrangement activities, as defined by EITF No. 07-1.