2.2.0.25falsefalse0202 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policiestruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Jan-01-2010_Dec-31-2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001056239duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0lll_SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesAbstractlllfalsenadurationSummary of Significant Accounting Policies.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringSummary of Significant Accounting Policies.falsefalseSummary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]3false0us-gaap_SignificantAccountingPoliciesTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00  <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%"> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent; text-align: left"> <tr> <td width="2%"></td> <td width="98%"></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">2. </font></b> </td> <td> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</font></b> </td> </tr> </table> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i>Basis of Presentation: </i></b>The accompanying financial statements comprise the consolidated financial statements of L-3 Holdings and L-3 Communications. L-3 Holdings’ only asset is its investment in the common stock of L-3 Communications, its wholly-owned subsidiary, and its only obligations are (1) the 3% Convertible Contingent Debt Securities (CODES) due 2035, which were issued by L-3 Holdings on July 29, 2005, (2) its guarantee of borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility of L-3 Communications and (3) its guarantee of other contractual obligations of L-3 Communications and its subsidiaries. L-3 Holdings’ obligations relating to the CODES have been jointly, severally, fully and unconditionally guaranteed by L-3 Communications and certain of its wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries. Accordingly, such debt has been reflected as debt of L-3 Communications in its consolidated financial statements in accordance with the accounting standards for pushdown accounting. All issuances of and conversions into L-3 Holdings’ equity securities, including grants of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance units by L-3 Holdings to employees and directors of L-3 Communications and its subsidiaries, have been reflected in the consolidated financial statements of L-3 Communications. As a result, the consolidated financial positions, results of operations and cash flows of L-3 Holdings and L-3 Communications are substantially the same. See Note 25 for additional information regarding the audited financial information of L-3 Communications and its subsidiaries. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. 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 sales and costs of sales during the reporting period. The most significant of these estimates and assumptions relate to contract revenue, profit and loss recognition, fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, market values for inventories reported at lower of cost or market, pension and post-retirement benefit obligations, stock-based employee compensation expense, income taxes, including the valuations of deferred tax assets, litigation reserves and environmental obligations, accrued product warranty costs, and the recoverability, useful lives and valuation of recorded amounts of long-lived assets, identifiable intangible assets and goodwill. Changes in estimates are reflected in the periods during which they become known. Actual amounts will differ from these estimates and could differ materially. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> During the quarter ended June 25, 2010, the Company made certain reclassifications between its Government Services and Electronic Systems reportable segments due to a re-alignment of a business unit in the Company’s management and organizational structure. See Note 22 for the prior period amounts reclassified between reportable segments. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> Certain other reclassifications have been made to conform prior-year amounts to the current-year presentation. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i>Principles of Consolidation:</i></b> The consolidated financial statements of the Company include all wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in equity securities, joint ventures and limited liability corporations over which the Company has significant influence but does not have voting control are accounted for using the equity method. Investments over which the Company does not have significant influence are accounted for using the cost method. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i>Revenue Recognition:</i></b> The majority of the Company’s contracts are generally fixed price, cost-plus or <font style="white-space: nowrap">time-and-material</font> type contracts. Depending on the type of contract, sales and profits are recognized based on: (1) a <font style="white-space: nowrap">Percentage-of-Completion</font> (POC) method of accounting, (2) allowable costs incurred plus the estimated profit on those costs (cost-plus), or (3) direct labor hours expended multiplied by the contractual fixed rate per hour plus incurred costs for material <font style="white-space: nowrap">(time-and-material).</font> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> Sales and profits on fixed-price type contracts that are covered by contract accounting standards are substantially recognized using POC methods of accounting. Sales and profits on fixed-price production contracts under which units are produced and delivered in a continuous or sequential process are recorded as units are delivered based on their contractual selling prices (the <font style="white-space: nowrap">“units-of-delivery”</font> method). Sales and profits on each fixed-price production contract under which units are not produced and delivered in a continuous or sequential process, or under which a relatively few number of units are produced, are recorded based on the ratio of actual cumulative costs incurred to the total estimated costs at completion of the contract, multiplied by the total estimated contract revenue, less cumulative sales recognized in prior periods (the <font style="white-space: nowrap">“cost-to-cost”</font> method). Under both POC methods of accounting, a single estimated total profit margin is used to recognize profit for each contract over its entire period of performance, which can exceed one year. Losses on contracts are recognized in the period in which they become evident. The impact of revisions of contract estimates, which may result from contract modifications, performance or other reasons, are recognized on a cumulative <font style="white-space: nowrap">catch-up</font> basis in the period in which the revisions are made. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> Sales and profits on cost-plus type contracts that are covered by contract accounting standards are recognized as allowable costs are incurred on the contract, at an amount equal to the allowable costs plus the estimated profit on those costs. The estimated profit on a cost-plus type contract is fixed or variable based on the contractual fee arrangement. Incentive and award fees are the primary variable fee contractual arrangements. Incentive and award fees on cost-plus type contracts are included as an element of total estimated contract revenues and are recorded to sales when a basis exists for the reasonable prediction of performance in relation to established contractual targets and the Company is able to make reasonably dependable estimates for them. </div>  </div>   <div style="margin-left: 0%">  <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b> <font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times"> </font> </b> </div>  <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> Sales and profits on <font style="white-space: nowrap">time-and-material</font> type contracts are recognized on the basis of direct labor hours expended multiplied by the contractual fixed rate per hour, plus the actual costs of materials and other direct non-labor costs. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> Sales on arrangements for (1) fixed-price type contracts that require us to perform services that are not related to the production of tangible assets (Fixed-Price Service Contracts) and (2) certain commercial customers are recognized in accordance with revenue recognition accounting standards for revenue arrangements with commercial customers. Sales for the Company’s businesses whose customers are primarily commercial business enterprises are substantially all generated from single element revenue arrangements. Sales are recognized when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, delivery has occurred or services have been performed, the selling price to the buyer is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Sales for Fixed-Price Service Contracts that do not contain measurable units of work performed are generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the contractual service period, unless evidence suggests that the revenue is earned, or obligations fulfilled, in a different manner. Sales for Fixed-Price Service Contracts that contain measurable units of work performed are generally recognized when the units of work are completed. Sales and profit on cost-plus and <font style="white-space: nowrap">time-and-material</font> type contracts to perform services are recognized in the same manner as those within the scope of contract accounting standards, except for incentive and award fees. Cost-based incentive fees are recognized when they are realizable in the amount that would be due under the contractual termination provisions as if the contract was terminated. Performance based incentive fees and award fees are recorded as sales when awarded by the customer. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> For contracts with multiple deliverables, the Company applies the separation and allocation guidance under the accounting standard for revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables, unless all the deliverables are covered by contract accounting standards, in which case the Company applies the separation and allocation guidance under contract accounting standards. Revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables are evaluated to determine if the deliverables should be separated into more than one unit of accounting. The Company recognizes revenue for each unit of accounting based on the revenue recognition policies discussed above. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> Sales and profit in connection with contracts to provide services to the U.S. Government that contain collection risk because the contracts are incrementally funded and subject to the availability of funds appropriated, are deferred until a contract modification is obtained, indicating that adequate funds are available to the contract or task order. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i>Research and Development:</i></b> Independent research and development (IRAD) costs sponsored by the Company and bid and proposal (B&P) costs relate to both U.S. Government products and services and those for commercial and international customers. The IRAD and B&P costs for the Company’s businesses that are U.S. Government contractors are recoverable indirect contract costs that are allocated to our U.S. Government contracts in accordance with U.S. Government procurement regulations, and are specifically excluded from research and development accounting standards. The Company includes IRAD and B&P costs allocated to U.S. Government contracts in inventoried contract costs, and charges them to costs of sales when the related contract sales are recognized as revenue. Research and development costs for the Company’s businesses that are not U.S. Government contractors are accounted for in accordance with research and development accounting standards and are expensed as incurred to cost of sales. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> Customer-funded research and development costs are incurred pursuant to contracts (revenue arrangements) to perform research and development activities according to customer specifications. These costs are not accounted for as research and development expenses, and are also not indirect contract costs. Instead, these costs are direct contract costs and are expensed to cost of sales when the corresponding revenue is recognized, which is generally as the research and development services are performed. Customer-funded research and development costs are substantially all incurred under cost-plus type contracts with the U.S. Government. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i>Product Warranties:</i></b> Product warranty costs are accrued when revenue is recognized for the covered products. Product warranty expense is recognized based on the terms of the product warranty and the related estimated costs. Accrued warranty costs are reduced as product warranty costs are incurred. </div>  </div>   <div style="margin-left: 0%">  <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b> <font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times"> </font> </b> </div>  <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> The table below presents the changes in the Company’s accrued product warranty costs. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <table border="0" width="100%" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent; text-align: left">  <tr style="font-size: 1pt" valign="bottom"> <td width="78%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="1%" align="right"> </td> <td width="8%" align="right"> </td> <td width="1%" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="1%" align="right"> </td> <td width="8%" align="right"> </td> <td width="1%" align="left"> </td> </tr>   <tr style="font-size: 7pt" valign="bottom" align="center"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="6" align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"> <b>Year Ended December 31,</b> </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 7pt" valign="bottom" align="center"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"> <b>2010</b> </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"> <b>2009</b> </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 7pt" valign="bottom" align="center"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="6" align="center" valign="bottom"> <b>(in millions)</b> </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr style="line-height: 3pt; font-size: 1pt"> <td>  </td> </tr>  <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> <b>Accrued product warranty costs<sup style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: top">(1)</sup>:</b> </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Balance at January 1 </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> $ </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">   99 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> $ </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">   102 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Acquisitions during this period </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 1 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> — </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Accruals for product warranties issued during the period </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 62 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 55 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Changes to accruals for product warranties existing before January 1 </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 4 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 2 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Foreign currency translation adjustments </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> (1 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> ) </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 2 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Settlements made during the period </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> (73 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> ) </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> (62 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> ) </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="font-size: 1pt"> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt"> Balance at December 31 </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> $ </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 92 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> $ </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 99 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="font-size: 1pt"> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> </tr> </table> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div style="font-size: 1pt; margin-left: 0%; width: 11%; align: left; border-bottom: 1pt solid #000000"> </div> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent; text-align: left"> <tr> <td width="1%"></td> <td width="1%"></td> <td width="98%"></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <font style="font-size: 8pt"><sup style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: top">(1)</sup></font></td> <td></td> <td valign="bottom"> <font style="font-size: 8pt">Warranty obligations incurred in connection with long-term production contracts that are accounted for under the POC <font style="white-space: nowrap">cost-to-cost</font> method are included within the contract estimates at completion and are excluded from the above amounts. The balances above include both the current and non-current amounts. </font></td> </tr> </table> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i>Deferred Debt Issue Costs:</i></b> Costs to issue debt are capitalized and deferred when incurred, and subsequently amortized to interest expense over the term of the related debt using the effective interest rate method. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i>Stock-Based Compensation: </i></b>The Company follows the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation, which requires the Company to expense all stock-based employee compensation. Stock-based employee compensation is primarily a non-cash expense because the Company settles these obligations by issuing shares of L-3 Holdings common stock instead of settling such obligations with cash payments, except for certain performance unit awards that are payable in cash. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> Compensation expense for all restricted stock, restricted stock unit and stock option awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award based on the grant date fair value. All of the stock options granted to employees by the Company are non-qualified stock options under U.S. income tax regulations. Compensation expense for performance units payable in L-3 Holdings common stock are based on the fair value of the units at the grant date (measurement date), adjusted each reporting period for progress towards the target award, and recognized on a straight line basis over the requisite service period. Compensation expense for performance units that are payable in cash is based on a binomial valuation technique (the Monte Carlo valuation model) adjusted for historical performance each reporting period and recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i>Income Taxes:</i></b> The Company provides for income taxes using the liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities reflect tax carryforwards and the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and income tax purposes, as determined under enacted tax laws and rates. The effect of changes in tax laws or rates is accounted for in the period of enactment. Valuation allowances for deferred tax assets are provided when it is more likely than not that the assets will not be realized, considering, when appropriate, tax planning strategies. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> Income tax accounting standards prescribe (1) a minimum recognition threshold that an income tax benefit arising from an uncertain income tax position taken, or expected to be taken, on an income tax return is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements and (2) the measurement of the income tax benefits recognized from such positions. The Company’s accounting policy is to classify uncertain income tax positions that are not expected to be resolved in one year as non-current income tax liabilities and to classify potential interest and penalties on uncertain income tax positions as elements of the provision for income taxes on its financial statements. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i>Cash and Cash Equivalents:</i></b> Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase. </div>  </div>   <div style="margin-left: 0%">  <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b> <font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times"> </font> </b> </div>  <div style="margin-top: 18pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i>Contracts in Process:</i></b> Contracts in process include unbilled contract receivables and inventoried contract costs for which sales and profits are recognized using a POC method of accounting. Unbilled Contract Receivables represent accumulated incurred costs and earned profits or losses on contracts in process that have been recorded as sales, primarily using the <font style="white-space: nowrap">cost-to-cost</font> method, which have not yet been billed to customers. Inventoried Contract Costs represent incurred costs on contracts in process that have not yet been recognized as costs and expenses because the related sales, which are primarily recorded using the <font style="white-space: nowrap">units-of-delivery</font> method, have not been recognized. Contract costs include direct costs and indirect costs, including overhead costs. As discussed in Note 5, the Company’s inventoried contract costs for U.S. Government contracts, and contracts with prime contractors or subcontractors of the U.S. Government include allocated general and administrative costs (G&A), IRAD costs and B&P costs. Contracts in Process contain amounts relating to contracts and programs with long performance cycles, a portion of which may not be realized within one year. For contracts in a loss position, the unrecoverable costs expected to be incurred in future periods are recorded in Estimated Costs in Excess of Estimated Contract Value to Complete Contracts in Process in a Loss Position, which is a component of Other Current Liabilities. Under the terms of certain revenue arrangements (contracts) with the U.S. Government, the Company may receive progress payments as costs are incurred or milestone payments as work is performed. The U.S. Government has a security interest in the Unbilled Contract Receivables and Inventoried Contract Costs to which progress payments have been applied, and such progress payments are reflected as a reduction of the related amounts. Milestone payments that have been received in excess of contract costs incurred and related estimated profits are reported on the Company’s balance sheet as Advance Payments and Billings in Excess of Costs Incurred. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> The Company values its acquired contracts in process in connection with business acquisitions on the date of acquisition at contract value less the Company’s estimated costs to complete the contract and a reasonable profit allowance on the Company’s completion effort commensurate with the profit margin that the Company earns on similar contracts. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i>Inventories:</i></b> Inventories, other than Inventoried Contract Costs, are stated at cost <font style="white-space: nowrap">(first-in,</font> first-out or average cost), but not in excess of realizable value. A provision for excess or inactive inventory is recorded based upon an analysis that considers current inventory levels, historical usage patterns and future sales expectations. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i>Property, Plant and Equipment:</i></b> Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed by applying principally the straight-line method to the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Useful lives range substantially from 10 to 40 years for buildings and improvements and 3 to 10 years for machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the improvements. When property or equipment is retired or otherwise disposed of, the net book value of the asset is removed from the Company’s balance sheet and the net gain or loss is included in the determination of operating income. Property, plant and equipment acquired as part of a business acquisition is valued at fair value. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i>Goodwill:</i></b> The carrying value of goodwill and indefinite lived identifiable intangible assets are not amortized, but are tested for impairment annually as of November 30 as well as whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable using a two-step process for each reporting unit. The first step in the process is to identify any potential impairment by comparing the carrying value of a reporting unit and its fair value. The Company determines the fair value of its reporting units using a discounted cash flows valuation approach. If a potential impairment is identified, the second step is to measure the impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of goodwill with the carrying value of goodwill of the reporting unit. There were no impairment charges that resulted from the annual impairment assessment or change in circumstances during 2010, 2009, or 2008. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i>Identifiable Intangible Assets:</i></b> Identifiable intangible assets represent assets acquired as part of the Company’s business acquisitions and include customer contractual relationships, technology, favorable leasehold interests and trade names. The initial measurement of these intangible assets is based on their fair values. Identifiable intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives as the economic benefits are consumed, ranging from 4 to 30 years. </div>  </div>   <div style="margin-left: 0%">  <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b> <font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times"> </font> </b> </div>  <div style="margin-top: 18pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i>Derivative Financial Instruments:</i></b> The Company’s derivative financial instruments include foreign currency forward contracts, which are entered into for risk management purposes, and an embedded derivative representing the contingent interest payment provision related to the CODES. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> The Company’s U.S. and foreign businesses enter into contracts with customers, subcontractors or vendors that are denominated in currencies other than their functional currencies. To protect the functional currency equivalent cash flows associated with certain of these contracts, the Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts. The Company’s activities involving foreign currency forward contracts are designed to hedge the changes in the functional currency equivalent cash flows due to movements in foreign exchange rates compared to the functional currency. The foreign currencies hedged are primarily the Canadian dollar, the Euro, the British pound and the U.S. dollar. The Company manages exposure to counterparty non-performance credit risk by entering into foreign currency forward contracts only with major financial institutions that are expected to fully perform under the terms of such contracts. Foreign currency forward contracts are recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value and are generally designated and accounted for as cash flow hedges in accordance with the accounting standards for derivative instruments and hedging activities. Gains and losses on designated foreign currency forward contracts that are highly effective in offsetting the corresponding change in the cash flows of the hedged transactions are recorded net of income taxes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (accumulated OCI) and then recognized in income when the underlying hedged transaction affects income. Gains and losses on foreign currency forward contracts that do not meet hedge accounting criteria are recognized in income immediately. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> The embedded derivative related to the issuance of the CODES is recorded at fair value with changes reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i>Translation of Foreign Currency and Foreign Currency Transactions: </i></b>Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into the local (functional) currency of the respective business at the approximate prevailing rate at the time of the transaction. Foreign exchange transaction gains and losses in the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 are not material to the Company’s results of operations. The operations of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated from the local (functional) currencies into U.S. dollars using weighted average rates of exchange during each reporting period. The rates of exchange at each balance sheet date are used for translating the assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. Gains or losses resulting from these translation adjustments are included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><i>Accounting Standards Issued and Not Yet Implemented: </i></b> In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a revised accounting standard for revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. The revision: (1) removes the <font style="white-space: nowrap">objective-and-reliable-evidence-of-fair-value</font> criterion from the separation criteria used to determine whether an arrangement involving multiple deliverables contains more than one unit of accounting, (2) provides a hierarchy that entities must use to estimate the selling price, (3) eliminates the use of the residual method for allocation, and (4) expands the ongoing disclosure requirements. The revised accounting standard is effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2011, and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 1%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> In October 2009, the FASB issued a revised accounting standard for certain revenue arrangements that include software elements. Under the revised standard, tangible products that contain both software and non-software components that work together to deliver a product’s essential functionality are excluded from the scope of pre-existing software revenue recognition standards. In addition, hardware components of a tangible product containing software components are excluded from the scope of software revenue recognition standards. The revised accounting standard is effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2011, and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. </div>  </div>   <div style="margin-left: 0%">  <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b> <font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times"> </font> </b> </div>  <div style="margin-top: 18pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged NotefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringThis element may be used to describe all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 22 -Paragraph 8 falsefalseSummary of Significant Accounting Policies12Summary of Significant Accounting PoliciesUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue