BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Principles of Consolidation and Reporting

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Northrop Grumman Corporation and subsidiaries (herein referred to as "Northrop Grumman," the "company," "we," "us," or "our"). Material intercompany accounts, transactions, and profits are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in equity securities and joint ventures where the company has significant influence, but not control, are accounted for using the equity method.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the company have been prepared by management in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for interim reporting purposes. These statements include adjustments of a normal recurring nature considered necessary by management for a fair presentation of the company's consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

The results reported in these financial statements are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the information contained in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K).

The quarterly information is labeled using a calendar convention; that is, first quarter is consistently labeled as ending on March 31, second quarter as ending on June 30, and third quarter as ending on September 30. It is management’s long-standing practice to establish actual interim closing dates using a “fiscal” calendar, in which we close our books on a Friday near these quarter-end dates in order to normalize the potentially disruptive effects of quarterly closings on business processes. This practice is only used at interim periods within a reporting year.

Accounting Estimates

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The preparation thereof requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingencies at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates have been prepared using the most current and best available information; however, actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

The majority of our contracts are accounted for under the percentage-of-completion method. For such contracts, changes in estimates of contract sales, costs, or profits are recognized using the cumulative catch-up method of accounting. This method recognizes, in the current period, the cumulative effect of the changes on current and prior periods, and revenue and profit in future periods of contract performance are recognized as if the revised estimate had been used since contract inception. Changes in contract estimates occur for a variety of reasons, including changes in contract scope, estimated revenue and cost estimates. These changes are often driven by events such as changes in estimated incentive fees, unanticipated risks affecting contract costs, the resolution of risk at lower or higher cost than anticipated, and changes in indirect cost allocations, such as overhead and general and administrative expenses. We employ an extensive contract management process involving several functional organizations and numerous personnel who are skilled at managing contract activities. Changes in estimates are frequent; the company performs on a broad portfolio of long-term contracts, many of which include complex and customized aerospace and electronic equipment and software, that often includes technology at the forefront of science.

Significant changes in estimates on a single contract could have a material effect on the company's consolidated financial position or annual results of operations, and where such changes occur, separate disclosure is made of the nature, underlying conditions and financial impact of the change. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, aggregate net changes in contract estimates recognized using the cumulative catch-up method of accounting increased operating income by $236 million ($0.66 per diluted share) and $657 million ($1.80 per diluted share), respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, such changes in contract estimates increased operating income by $214 million ($0.55 per diluted share) and $701 million ($1.79 per diluted share), respectively. No discrete event or adjustment to an individual contract was material to the condensed consolidated statements of earnings and comprehensive income for any of these periods.

As of September 30, 2013, the amounts related to claims and requests for equitable adjustment recognized in estimated contract values were not material individually or in aggregate.

As of September 30, 2013, the company did not have any contract terminations in process that would have a material effect on our consolidated financial position or annual results of operations.

Related Party Transactions

For all periods presented, the company had no material related party transactions.

Accounting Standards Updates

Accounting standards updates effective after September 30, 2013, are not expected to have a material effect on the company’s consolidated financial position or annual results of operations.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss are as follows:



$ in millions	September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
Unamortized benefit plan costs, net of tax benefit of $2,990 as of September 30, 2013, and $3,149 as of December 31, 2012	$	(4,553	)	$	(4,790	)
Cumulative translation adjustment	12			4
Net unrealized loss on marketable securities and cash flow hedges, net of tax benefit	(2		)	(1		)
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(4,543	)	$	(4,787	)

Unamortized benefit plan costs consist primarily of net after-tax actuarial losses totaling $4.8 billion and $5.1 billion as of September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively. Net actuarial gains or losses are re-determined annually and principally arise from changes in the rate used to discount the benefit obligations and differences in expected and actual returns on plan assets.

Reclassifications from other comprehensive income to net earnings related to the amortization of benefit plan costs were $78 million and $237 million, net of taxes, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and were $50 million and $154 million, net of taxes, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. The reclassifications represent the amortization of net actuarial losses and prior service credits for the company's retirement benefit plans, and are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (See Note 8 for further information).

Reclassifications from other comprehensive income to net earnings, relating to cumulative translation adjustments, marketable securities and effective cash flow hedges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, were not material. Reclassifications for cumulative translation adjustments and marketable securities are recorded in other income, and reclassifications for effective cash flow hedges are recorded in operating income.