Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

12 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2014

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.

Use Of Estimates

Use of Estimates The preparation of Financial Statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (U.S.) (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 substantially all foreign operations, local currencies are considered the functional currency.  Assets and liabilities of non-U.S. dollar functional currency entities 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 U.S. are recorded as a cumulative translation adjustment, a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) 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.  Foreign currency translation gains of $1.7 million, $0.2 million, and $1.8 million are included in Other income, net in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings in Fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.

Cash Equivalents

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

Short-Term Investments

Short-Term Investments As of July 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s short-term investments consisted exclusively of time deposits with durations longer than 3 months, but less than 1 year.  These investments are carried at cost, which approximates their estimated fair value.  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.

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 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 non-U.S. inventories are valued using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.  Inventories valued at LIFO were approximately 33 percent of total inventories at July 31, 2014 and 2013.  For inventories valued under the LIFO method, the FIFO cost exceeded the LIFO carrying values by $37.9 million and $37.8 million at July 31, 2014 and 2013, 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,
	2014		2013
Raw materials	$	112,522	$	99,814
Work in process		17,256		29,097
Finished products		123,573		105,909
Total inventories	$	253,351	$	234,820

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 $62.0 million in Fiscal 2014, $58.8 million in Fiscal 2013, and $55.3 million in Fiscal 2012.  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,
	2014		2013
Land	$	20,558	$	21,116
Buildings		273,599		270,022
Machinery and equipment		753,637		687,797
Construction in progress		51,394		46,078
Less accumulated depreciation		(647,523)		(605,733)
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	$	451,665	$	419,280

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 to seven years and are reported as a component of machinery and equipment within property, plant, and equipment.

Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets

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, and 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 operating segment level, but can be combined when reporting units within the same operating 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. 

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.  There were no significant impairment charges recorded in Fiscal 2014, Fiscal 2013, or Fiscal 2012.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes The provision for income taxes is computed based on the pre-tax income reported for financial statement purposes.  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 gains or losses on cash flow hedging derivatives, and is presented in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity.  The components of the ending balances of AOCI are as follows (thousands of dollars):

	At July 31,
	2014		2013		2012
Foreign currency translation adjustment	$	48,289	$	50,411	$	32,976
Net loss on cash flow hedging derivatives, net of deferred taxes		(101)		(172)		(292)
Pension and postretirement liability adjustment, net of deferred taxes		(93,998)		(87,712)		(134,572)
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(45,810)	$	(37,473)	$	(101,888)

Cumulative foreign currency translation is not adjusted for income taxes.  See Note H for additional disclosures related to AOCI.

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 884,138 options, 22,619 options, and 1,063,135 options excluded from the diluted net earnings per share calculation for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.

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

	2014		2013		2012
	(thousands, except per share amounts)
Weighted average shares - basic		145,594		148,274		150,286
Diluted share equivalents		2,047		2,181		2,655
Weighted average shares - diluted		147,641		150,455		152,941
Net earnings for basic and diluted earnings
per share computation	$	260,224	$	247,377	$	264,301
Net earnings per share - basic	$	1.79	$	1.67	$	1.76
Net earnings per share - diluted	$	1.76	$	1.64	$	1.73

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 (determined on an average cost basis) and is presented as a 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 I.  Stock-based employee compensation cost is recognized using the fair-value based method.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition Revenue is recognized when all the following criteria are satisfied:(a) persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists; (b) price is fixed and determinable; (c) collectability is reasonably assured; and (d) delivery has occurred.  At that time, 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 2014, 2013, and 2012 totaled $64.2 million, $66.2 million, and $67.0 million, respectively, and are classified as a component of selling, general, and administrative 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 M.

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 designated as hedges are adjusted to fair value through income.  If the derivative is designated as 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.

New Accounting Standards Recently Adopted

New Accounting StandardsRecently Adopted In February 2013, the FASB updated the disclosure requirements for AOCI.  The updated guidance requires companies to disclose amounts reclassified out of AOCI by component.  The updated guidance only impacts disclosure requirements and does not affect how net income or other comprehensive income are calculated.  The updated guidance was adopted by the Company beginning in the first quarter of Fiscal 2014.  For additional information, refer to Note H.