Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

12 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2012

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Principles Of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Donaldson Company, Inc. and all majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Company's three joint ventures that are not majority-owned are accounted for under the equity method. The Company does not have any variable interests in variable interest entities as of July 31, 2012. The Company uses a fiscal period which ends on a calendar basis for international affiliates and on the Friday nearest to July 31 for U.S. purposes.

Use Of Estimates

Use of Estimates The preparation of Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation For foreign operations, local currencies are considered the functional currency. Assets and liabilities are translated to U.S. dollars at year-end exchange rates and the resulting gains and losses arising from the translation of net assets located outside the United States are recorded as a cumulative translation adjustment, a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Elements of the Consolidated Statements of Earnings are translated at average exchange rates in effect during the year. Realized and unrealized foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in Other income, net in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. A foreign currency transaction gain of $1.8 million and losses of $4.5 million, and $4.6 million are included in Other income, net in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings in Fiscal 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively.

Cash Equivalents

Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid temporary investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are carried at cost that approximates market value.

Short-Term Investments

Short-Term Investments Classification of the Company's investments as current or non-current is dependent upon management's intended holding period, the investment's maturity date and liquidity considerations based on market conditions. If management intends to hold the investments for longer than one year as of the balance sheet date, they are classified as non-current. See Note B for disclosures related to the Company's short-term investments.

Accounts Receivable And Allowance For Doubtful Accounts

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company's best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in its existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience in the industry, regional economic data, and evaluation of specific Customer accounts for risk of loss. The Company reviews its allowance for doubtful accounts monthly. Past due balances over 90 days and over a specified amount are reviewed individually for collectability. All other balances are reviewed on a pooled basis by type of receivable. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Company feels it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. The Company does not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to its Customers.

Inventories

  Inventories Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. U.S. inventories are valued using the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") method, while the international subsidiaries use the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method. Inventories valued at LIFO were approximately 30 percent and 33 percent of total inventories at July 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. For inventories valued under the LIFO method, the FIFO cost exceeded the LIFO carrying values by $37.4 million and $37.1 million at July 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Results of operations for all periods presented were not materially affected by the liquidation of LIFO inventory. The components of inventory are as follows (thousands of dollars):

	At July 31,
	2012		2011
Materials	$	111,808	$	110,466
Work in process		30,767		33,917
Finished products		113,541		127,093
Total inventories	$	256,116	$	271,476

Property, Plant And Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Additions, improvements, or major renewals are capitalized, while expenditures that do not enhance or extend the asset's useful life are charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation is computed under the straight-line method. Depreciation expense was $55.3 million in Fiscal 2012, $54.5 million in Fiscal 2011, and $53.2 million in Fiscal 2010. The estimated useful lives of property, plant, and equipment are 10 to 40 years for buildings, including building improvements, and 3 to 10 years for machinery and equipment. The components of property, plant, and equipment are as follows (thousands of dollars):

	At July 31,
	2012			2011
Land	$	21,062		$	22,578
Buildings		258,082			266,482
Machinery and equipment		643,199			625,439
Construction in progress		27,276			31,375
Less accumulated depreciation		(564,710	)		(554,372	)
Total property, plant and equipment, net	$	384,909		$	391,502

Internal-Use Software

  Internal-Use Software The Company capitalizes direct costs of materials and services used in the development and purchase of internal-use software. Amounts capitalized are amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of five years and are reported as a component of machinery and equipment within property, plant, and equipment.

Goodwill And Other Intangible

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired in business combinations under the purchase method of accounting. Other intangible assets, consisting primarily of patents, trademarks, Customer relationships and lists, are recorded at cost and are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of 3 to 20 years. Goodwill is assessed for impairment annually or if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate the carrying amount may be impaired. The impairment assessment for goodwill is done at a reporting unit level. Reporting units are one level below the business segment level, but can be combined when reporting units within the same segment have similar economic characteristics. An impairment loss generally would be recognized when the carrying amount of the reporting unit's net assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. The Company completed its annual impairment assessment in the third quarters of Fiscal 2012 and 2011, which indicated no impairment.

Recoverability Of Long-Lived Assets

Recoverability of Long-Lived Assets The Company reviews its long-lived assets, including identifiable intangibles, for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If impairment indicators are present and the estimated future undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of the assets, the carrying value is reduced.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes The provision for income taxes is computed based on the pretax income included in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences attributed to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive Income (Loss) Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income, foreign currency translation adjustments, net changes in the funded status of pension retirement obligations, and net gain or loss on cash flow hedging derivatives, and is presented in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity. The components of the ending balances of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows (thousands of dollars):

	At July 31,
	2012			2011			2010
Foreign currency translation adjustment	$	32,976		$	131,699		$	59,194
Net gain (loss) on cash flow hedging derivatives, net of deferred taxes		(292	)		380			(462	)
Pension and postretirement liability adjustment, net of deferred taxes		(134,572	)		(92,052	)		(99,218	)
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(101,888	)	$	40,027		$	(40,486	)

Cumulative foreign translation is not adjusted for income taxes.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share The Company's basic net earnings per share are computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of outstanding common shares. The Company's diluted net earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of outstanding common shares and common equivalent shares relating to stock options and stock incentive plans. Certain outstanding options were excluded from the diluted net earnings per share calculations because their exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the Company's common stock during those periods. There were 1,063,135 options, 988,698 options, and 1,691,654 options excluded from the diluted net earnings per share calculation for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively.

The following table presents information necessary to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share:

	2012		2011		2010
	(thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
Weighted average shares - basic		150,286		154,393		155,697
Diluted share equivalents		2,655		2,804		2,659
Weighted average shares - diluted		152,941		157,197		158,356
Net earnings for basic and diluted earnings per share computation	$	264,301	$	225,291	$	166,163
Net earnings per share - basic	$	1.76	$	1.46	$	1.07
Net earnings per share - diluted	$	1.73	$	1.43	$	1.05

On January 27, 2012, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a 100 percent stock dividend. The stock split was distributed March 23, 2012, to stockholders of record as of March 2, 2012. Earnings and dividends per share and weighted average shares outstanding are presented in this Form 10-K after the effect of the 100 percent stock dividend. The two-for-one stock split is reflected in the share amounts in all periods presented in the table above and elsewhere in this annual Form 10-K.

Treasury Stock

Treasury Stock Repurchased common stock is stated at cost and is presented as a separate reduction of shareholders' equity.

Research And Development

Research and Development Research and development costs are charged against earnings in the year incurred. Research and development expenses include basic scientific research and the application of scientific advances to the development of new and improved products and their uses.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation The Company offers stock-based employee compensation plans, which are more fully described in Note J. Stock-based employee compensation cost is recognized using the fair-value based method.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition Revenue is recognized when both product ownership and the risk of loss have transferred to the Customer and the Company has no remaining obligations. The Company records estimated discounts and rebates as a reduction of sales in the same period revenue is recognized. Shipping and handling costs for Fiscal 2012, 2011, and 2010 totaling $67.0 million, $61.9 million, and $49.8 million, respectively, are classified as a component of operating expenses.

Product Warranties

Product Warranties The Company provides for estimated warranty costs at the time of sale and accrues for specific items at the time their existence is known and the amounts are determinable. The Company estimates warranty costs using standard quantitative measures based on historical warranty claim experience and evaluation of specific Customer warranty issues. For a warranty reserve reconciliation see Note N.

Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities

     Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities The Company recognizes all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not hedges are adjusted to fair value through income. If the derivative is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of derivatives are either offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments through earnings or recognized in shareholders' equity through other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized. Gains or losses related to the ineffective portion of any hedge are recognized through earnings in the current period.

Exit Or Disposal Activities

Exit or Disposal Activities The Company accounts for costs relating to exit or disposal activities based on FASB guidance related to exit or disposal cost obligations. This guidance addresses recognition, measurement, and reporting of costs associated with exit and disposal activities including restructuring. See Note P for disclosures related to restructuring.

Guarantees

Guarantees Upon issuance of a guarantee, the Company recognizes a liability for the fair value of an obligation assumed under a guarantee. See Note M for disclosures related to guarantees.