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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 25, 2011
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

1. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

        Unless otherwise noted in this report, any description of "we", "us" or "our" includes Molson Coors Brewing Company ("MCBC" or the "Company"), principally a holding company, and its operating subsidiaries: MillerCoors LLC ("MillerCoors") which is accounted for by us under the equity method of accounting, Molson Coors Brewing Company (UK) Limited ("MCBC-UK"), Molson Coors Canada ("MCC") and our other operating entities as further described in Note 1 of the Notes to the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements (the "Notes") included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25, 2010 ("Annual Report").

        Unless otherwise indicated, information in this report is presented in U.S. dollars ("USD" or "$").

        The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements reflect all adjustments which are necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). Such unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.

        These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report and have been prepared on a consistent basis with the accounting policies described in Note 1 of the Notes. The results of operations for the thirteen and twenty-six week periods ended June 25, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full fiscal year.

        During the fourth quarter of 2010, we changed the classification of returnable bottles and pallets to noncurrent assets within Properties, net which were previously classified as current assets within Inventories—Packaging Materials, and have applied the classification change retrospectively in accordance with U.S. GAAP. This impacted the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the twenty-six weeks ended June 26, 2010 as discussed in Note 22 of the Notes.

        We follow a 52/53 week fiscal reporting calendar. The second fiscal quarter of 2011 and 2010 consisted of thirteen weeks ended on June 25, 2011 and June 26, 2010, respectively. The first half of 2011 and 2010 consisted of twenty-six weeks ended on June 25, 2011 and June 26, 2010, respectively. Fiscal year 2011 consists of 53 weeks ending on December 31, 2011 and fiscal year 2010 consisted of the 52 weeks ended December 25, 2010.

        Unless otherwise indicated, second quarter refers to the thirteen week periods ended June 25, 2011 and June 26, 2010 and first half refers to the twenty-six week periods ended June 25, 2011 and June 26, 2010.

        MillerCoors follows a monthly reporting calendar. The second quarter and first half of 2011 and 2010 consisted of three months and six months ended June 30, 2011 and June 30, 2010, respectively.

        Our significant accounting policies are presented in Note 1 of the Notes and did not significantly change in the second quarter or first half of 2011.

        Consistent with the disclosure in the Annual Report, these significant accounting policies include our treatment of the allowance for credit losses on our MCBC-UK trade loan portfolio. This allowance is maintained to provide for probable loan losses related to specifically identified loans and for losses inherent in the loan portfolio that have been incurred at the balance sheet date. We establish our allowance through a provision for loan losses charged against earnings and recorded in marketing, general & administrative expenses. Loan balances that are written off are recorded against the allowance as a write-off. A rollforward of the allowance for the quarter ended June 25, 2011 is as follows (in millions):

Balance at December 25, 2010

  $ 9.1  
 

Provision for loan loss

    (0.6 )
 

Write-offs

    (0.5 )
 

Foreign currency and other adjustments

    0.2  
       

Balance at June 25, 2011

  $ 8.2