Prepaid Allowances
Prepaid allowances arise when we prepay sales discounts and marketing allowances to certain customers on multi-year sales contracts. These costs are capitalized and amortized against net sales. The majority of our contracts are for a specific committed customer sales volume while others are for a specific time duration. Prepaid allowances on volume based contracts are amortized based on the actual volume of customer purchases, while prepaid allowances on time- based contracts are amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the contract. The amounts reported in the balance sheet are stated at the lower of unamortized cost or our estimate of the net realizable value of these allowances.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when we have an agreement with the customer, the product has been delivered to the customer, the sales price is fixed and collectibility is reasonably assured. We reduce revenue for estimated product returns, allowances and price discounts based on historical experience and contractual terms.
Trade allowances, consisting primarily of customer pricing allowances, merchandising funds and consumer coupons, are offered through various programs to customers and consumers. Revenue is recorded net of trade allowances.
Receivables are amounts billed and currently due from customers. We have an allowance for doubtful accounts to reduce our receivables to their net realizable value. We estimate the allowance for doubtful accounts based on our history of collections and the aging of our receivables.
Shipping and Handling
Shipping and handling costs on our products sold to customers are included in selling, general and administrative expense in the income statement. Shipping and handling expense was $84.0 million, $81.9 million and $81.7 million for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Research and Development
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and are included in selling, general and administrative expense in the income statement. Research and development expense was $51.0 million, $49.3 million and $45.0 million for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. |
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Marketing Support
Total marketing support costs, which are included in selling, general and administrative expense in the income statement, were $127.0 million, $112.3 million and $108.6 million for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Marketing support costs include advertising, promotions and customer trade funds used for cooperative advertising. Promotion costs include consumer promotions, point of sale materials and sampling programs. Advertising costs include the development and production of ads and the communication of ads through print, television, radio and the Internet and in-store advertising expenses. These ads are expensed in the period in which they first run. Advertising expense was $57.4 million, $54.7 million and $57.9 million for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. 132(R)-1, “Employers’ Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets” to provide guidance on an employer’s disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension plan. FSP No. 132(R)-1 is effective for our year ending November 30, 2010.
In March 2008, FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” This standard is intended to improve financial reporting by requiring more disclosure about the location and amounts of derivative instruments in an entity’s financial statements; how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS No 133; and how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect its financial position, financial performance and cash flows. SFAS No. 161 is effective for our first quarter of 2009.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements.” This standard outlines the accounting and reporting for ownership interest in a subsidiary held by parties other than the parent. SFAS No. 160 is effective for our first quarter of 2010. We have not yet determined the impact from adoption of this new accounting pronouncement on our financial statements.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, “Business Combinations.” This standard establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the goodwill acquired. This
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