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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 25, 2012

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. Intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements is in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("US GAAP") which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates are based on historical information, current trends, and information available from other sources. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Fiscal Year

The Company's fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in August. For financial reporting purposes, fiscal 2012 consisted of 52 weeks, as did fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in banks and bank short-term investments with maturities of less than ninety days.

Financial Instruments

The Company's financial instruments, which may expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk, include cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accounts payable, notes payable and long-term debt. Each of these financial instruments is recorded at cost, which approximates its fair value.

Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company recognizes revenue from rental operations in the period in which the services are provided. Direct sales revenue is recognized in the period in which the services are performed or when the product is shipped. Management judgments and estimates are used in determining the collectability of accounts receivable and evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company considers specific accounts receivable and historical bad debt experience, customer credit worthiness, current economic trends and the age of outstanding balances as part of its evaluation. Changes in estimates are reflected in the period they become known. If the financial condition of the Company's customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. Material changes in its estimates may result in significant differences in the amount and timing of bad debt expense recognition for any given period. Revenues do not include taxes we collect from our customers and remit to governmental authorities.

Inventories and Rental Merchandise in Service

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value, net of any reserve for excess and obsolete inventory. Judgments and estimates are used in determining the likelihood that new goods on hand can be sold to customers or used in rental operations. Historical inventory usage and current revenue trends are considered in estimating both excess and obsolete inventories. If actual product demand and market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required. The Company uses the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method to value its inventories, which primarily consist of finished goods.

Rental merchandise in service is amortized, primarily on a straight-line basis, over the estimated service lives of the merchandise, which range from 6 to 36 months. In establishing estimated lives for merchandise in service, management considers historical experience and the intended use of the merchandise. Material differences may result in the amount and timing of operating profit for any period if management makes significant changes to these estimates.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred, while expenditures for renewals and betterments are capitalized. The Company provides for depreciation on the straight-line method based on the following estimated useful lives:

Buildings	30-40 years
Leasehold improvements	Shorter of useful life or term of lease
Machinery and equipment	3-10 years
Motor vehicles	3-5 years

Long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, are evaluated for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate an asset may be impaired. There have been no material impairments of long-lived assets in fiscal 2012, 2011 or 2010.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

In accordance with US GAAP, the Company does not amortize goodwill. Instead, current accounting guidance requires that companies test goodwill for impairment on an annual basis. Management completes its annual impairment test in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. In addition, US GAAP requires that companies test goodwill if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit to which goodwill is assigned below its carrying amount. The Company's evaluation considers changes in the operating environment, competitive information, market trends, operating performance and cash flow modeling.

The Company cannot predict future economic conditions or the future market value of the Company's stock or their impact on the Company. A decline in the Company's market capitalization and/or deterioration in general economic conditions could negatively and materially impact the Company's assumptions and assessment of the fair value of the Company's business. If general economic conditions or the Company's financial performance deteriorate, the Company may be required to record a goodwill impairment charge in the future which could have a material impact on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.

Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their useful lives, which are based on management's estimates of the period that the assets will generate revenue. Definite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable in accordance with US GAAP. When the sum of projected undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount, impairment losses are recognized. There were no impairments of goodwill or indicators of impairment for definite-lived intangible assets in fiscal 2012, 2011, or 2010.

As of August 25, 2012, definite-lived intangible assets have a weighted average useful life of approximately 14.2 years. Customer contracts have a weighted average useful life of approximately 14.6 years and other intangible assets, net, which consist of primarily, restrictive covenants, deferred financing costs and trademarks, have a weighted average useful life of approximately 6.2 years.

Environmental and Other Contingencies

The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims arising from the conduct of its business operations, including environmental matters, personal injury, customer contract matters and employment claims. Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States require that a liability for contingencies be recorded when it is probable that a liability has occurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Significant judgment is required to determine the existence of a liability, as well as the amount to be recorded. The Company regularly consults with attorneys and outside consultants, in its consideration of the relevant facts and circumstances, before recording a contingent liability. The Company records accruals for environmental and other contingencies based on enacted laws, regulatory orders or decrees, the Company's estimates of costs, insurance proceeds, participation by other parties, the timing of payments, and the input of outside consultants and attorneys.

The estimated liability for environmental contingencies has been discounted using risk-free interest rates ranging from 1.7% to 2.8% over periods ranging from ten to thirty years. The estimated current costs, net of legal settlements with insurance carriers, have been adjusted for the estimated impact of inflation at 3% per year. Changes in enacted laws, regulatory orders or decrees, management's estimates of costs, risk-free interest rates, insurance proceeds, participation by other parties, the timing of payments and the input of outside consultants and attorneys based on changing legal or factual circumstances could have a material impact on the amounts recorded for environmental and other contingent liabilities. Refer to Note 11, "Commitments and Contingencies", of these Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion and analysis.

Asset Retirement Obligations

Under US GAAP, asset retirement obligations generally apply to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or the normal operation of a long-lived asset. The Company recognizes asset retirement obligations in the period in which they are incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset.

The Company has recognized as a liability the present value of the estimated future costs to decommission its nuclear laundry facilities. The Company depreciates, on a straight-line basis, the amount added to Property, plant and equipment and recognizes accretion expense in connection with the discounted liability over the various remaining lives which range from approximately one to thirty-two years.

The estimated liability has been based on historical experience in decommissioning nuclear laundry facilities, estimated useful lives of the underlying assets, external vendor estimates as to the cost to decommission these assets in the future, and federal and state regulatory requirements. The estimated current costs have been adjusted for the estimated impact of inflation at 3% per year. The liability has been discounted using credit-adjusted risk-free rates that range from approximately 7.0% to 7.5%. Revisions to the liability could occur due to changes in the Company's estimated useful lives of the underlying assets, estimated dates of decommissioning, changes in decommissioning costs, changes in federal or state regulatory guidance on the decommissioning of such facilities, or other changes in estimates. Changes due to revised estimates will be recognized by adjusting the carrying amount of the liability and the related long-lived asset if the assets are still in service, or charged to expense in the period if the assets are no longer in service.

Derivative Financial Instruments

US GAAP requires that all derivative instruments be recorded as other assets or other liabilities at fair value. All subsequent changes in a derivative's fair value are recognized in income, unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. Cash flows associated with derivatives are classified in the same category as the cash flows hedged in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Derivative instruments that qualify for hedge accounting are classified as a hedge of the variability of cash flows to be paid related to a recognized liability or a forecasted transaction. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective and designated as a cash flow hedge are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets until expenses from the cash flows of the hedged items are recognized. The Company performs an assessment at the inception of a hedge and on a quarterly basis thereafter, to determine whether its derivatives are highly effective in offsetting changes in the value of the hedged items. Any change in the fair value resulting from hedge ineffectiveness is immediately recognized as income or expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company's hedging activities are transacted only with highly rated institutions, which reduce the exposure to credit risk in the event of nonperformance. Refer to Note 6, "Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities", of these Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion and analysis.

Insurance

The Company is self-insured for certain obligations related to health, workers' compensation, vehicles and general liability programs. The Company also purchases stop-loss insurance policies to protect itself from catastrophic losses. Judgments and estimates are used in determining the potential value associated with reported claims and for events that have occurred, but have not been reported. The Company's estimates consider historical claims experience and other factors. The Company's liabilities are based on estimates, and, while the Company believes that its accruals are adequate, the ultimate liability may be significantly different from the amounts recorded. Changes in claims experience, the Company's ability to settle claims or other estimates and judgments used by management could have a material impact on the amount and timing of expense for any period.

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and other Pension Plans

Pension expense is recognized on an accrual basis over employees' estimated service periods. Pension expense is generally independent of funding decisions or requirements.

The Company (1) recognizes in its statement of financial position the over-funded or under-funded status of its defined benefit postretirement plan measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligation, (2) recognizes as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax, the actuarial gains and losses and the prior service costs and credits that arise during the period but are not recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost, (3) measures defined benefit plan assets and defined benefit plan obligations as of the date of its statement of financial position, and (4) discloses additional information in the notes to financial statements about certain effects on net periodic benefit cost in the upcoming fiscal year that arise from delayed recognition of the actuarial gains and losses and the prior service costs and credits. Refer to Note 7, "Employee Benefit Plans", of these Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion regarding the Company's pension plans.

The calculation of pension expense and the corresponding liability requires the use of a number of critical assumptions, including the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and the assumed discount rate. Changes in these assumptions can result in different expense and liability amounts, and future actual experience can differ from these assumptions. Pension expense increases as the expected rate of return on pension plan assets decreases. Future changes in plan asset returns, assumed discount rates and various other factors related to the participants in the Company's pension plans will impact the Company's future pension expense and liabilities. The Company cannot predict with certainty what these factors will be in the future.

Income Taxes

The Company computes income tax expense by jurisdiction based on its operations in each jurisdiction. Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between the amounts recognized for income tax and financial reporting purposes at currently enacted tax rates.

The Company is periodically reviewed by U.S. domestic and foreign tax authorities regarding the amount of taxes due. These reviews typically include inquiries regarding the timing and amount of deductions and the allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. In evaluating the exposure associated with various filing positions, the Company records estimated reserves. Refer to Note 4, "Income Taxes", of these Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion regarding the Company's accounting for income taxes and its uncertain tax positions for financial accounting purposes.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and are classified as selling and administrative expenses. The Company incurred advertising costs of $1.5 million, $1.7 million and $1.5 million for the fiscal years ended August 25, 2012, August 27, 2011 and August 28, 2010, respectively.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company adopted a stock incentive plan (the "1996 Plan") in November 1996 and reserved 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the 1996 Plan. This plan provided for the issuance of stock options and stock appreciation rights (collectively referred to as "Share-Based Awards"). The Company ceased granting new awards under the 1996 Plan as of January 21, 2011, and the 1996 Plan expired in accordance with its terms on January 8, 2012. The Company adopted a stock incentive plan (the "2010 Plan") in October 2010 and reserved 600,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the 2010 Plan. The 2010 Plan replaced the Company's 1996 Plan. The 2010 Plan permits the award of incentive and non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, unrestricted stock, performance shares, dividend equivalent rights and cash-based awards. No awards may be made under the 2010 Plan after January 11, 2021. Share-based compensation, which includes expense related to Share-Based Awards and restricted stock grants, has been recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income in selling and administrative expenses.

All Share-Based Awards issued to management were recommended to the Board of Directors by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. All share-based compensation issued to the Company's non-employee members of the Board of Directors under the 2010 Plan were recommended to the Board of Directors by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. Share-Based Awards granted to non-employee directors are granted on the third business day following the annual shareholders' meeting.

All Share-Based Awards issued to employees were granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant and are subject to a five-year cliff-vesting schedule under which the awards become fully vested or exercisable after five years from the date of grant and expire ten years after the grant date. Share-Based Awards granted to the Company's non-employee members of the Board of Directors (the "Directors") are fully vested as of the date of grant. Prior to fiscal 2009, non-employee Director option grants expired ten years from the grant date. Beginning in fiscal 2009, non-employee director option grants expire eight years after the grant date.

US GAAP requires that share-based compensation cost be measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and be recognized as expense over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. Determining the fair value of Share-Based Awards at the grant date requires judgment, including estimating expected dividends, share price volatility and the amount of share-based awards that are expected to be forfeited. The fair value of each Share-Based Award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

Compensation expense for all Share-Based Awards is recognized ratably over the related vesting period. Certain Share-Based Awards were granted during fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 to non-employee Directors of the Company, which were fully vested upon grant and expire eight years after the grant date. Accordingly, compensation expense related to these Share-Based Awards in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 were recognized on the date of grant.

The Company recognizes compensation expense for restricted stock grants over the related vesting period. For unrestricted stock grants compensation expense is recognized on the date of grant. The fair value for each restricted and unrestricted stock grant is determined by using the closing price of the Company's stock on the date of the grant. Refer to Note 12, "Share-Based Compensation", of these Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion regarding the Company's share-based compensation plans.

The fair value of each Share-Based Award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used:

Fiscal year ended August	2012		2011		2010
Risk-free interest rate	1.54	%	1.98	%	2.97	%
Expected dividend yield	0.56	%	0.60	%	0.62	%
Expected life in years	7.39		7.32		7.39
Expected volatility	33.8	%	34.8	%	39.3	%

The weighted average fair values of Share-Based Awards granted during fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010 were $18.28, $17.59 and $18.86, respectively.

Net Income Per Share

The Company calculates net income per share in accordance with US GAAP, which requires the Company to allocate income to its unvested participating securities as part of its earnings per share ("EPS") calculations.

The Class B Common Stock may be converted at any time on a one-for-one basis into Common Stock at the option of the holder of the Class B Common Stock. Diluted earnings per share for the Company's Common Stock assumes the conversion of all of the Company's Class B Common Stock into Common Stock, full vesting of outstanding restricted stock, and the exercise of Share-Based Awards under the Company's stock-based employee compensation plans.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic earnings per share using the two-class method for amounts attributable to the Company's shares of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (in thousands, except per share data):

	August 25,		August 27,		August 28,
Year ended	2012		2011		2010

Net income available to shareholders	$	94,989	$	76,486	$	76,408

Allocation of net income for Basic:
Common Stock	$	74,643	$	59,944	$	59,921
Class B Common Stock		18,630		15,104		15,875
Unvested participating shares		1,716		1,438		612
	$	94,989	$	76,486	$	76,408

Weighted average number of shares for Basic:
Common Stock		14,882		14,791		14,570
Class B Common Stock		4,643		4,658		4,823
Unvested participating shares		391		405		171
		19,916		19,854		19,564

Earnings per share for Basic:
Common Stock	$	5.02	$	4.05	$	4.11
Class B Common Stock	$	4.01	$	3.24	$	3.29

The Company calculates diluted EPS for Common Stock using the more dilutive of the following two methods:

	.		The treasury stock method; or

	.		The two-class method assuming a participating security is not exercised or converted.

For the years ended August 25, 2012, August 27, 2011 and August 28, 2010, the Company's diluted EPS assumes the conversion of all vested Class B Common Stock into Common Stock and uses the two-class method for its unvested participating shares as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

		Year Ended August 25, 2012					Year Ended August 27, 2011					Year Ended August 28, 2010
		Earnings					Earnings					Earnings
		to Common		Common			to Common		Common			to Common		Common
		shareholders		Shares	EPS		shareholders		Shares	EPS		shareholders		Shares	EPS

As reported - Basic	$	74,643		14,882	$ 5.02	$	59,944		14,791	$ 4.05	$	59,921		14,570	$ 4.11

Add: effect of dilutive potential common shares
Share-Based Awards		-		91			-		83			-		65
Class B Common Stock		18,630		4,643			15,104		4,658			15,875		4,823

Add: Undistributed earnings allocated to unvested participating shares		1,664		-			1,385		-			598		-

Less: Undistributed earnings reallocated to unvested participating shares		(1,579	)	-			(1,315	)	-			(567	)	-

Diluted EPS - Common Stock		93,358		19,616	$ 4.76		75,118		19,532	$ 3.85		75,827		19,458	$ 3.90

There were no shares of common stock that were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the year ended August 25, 2012. Share-Based Awards that would result in the issuance of 116,487 and 118,800 shares of Common Stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the year ended August 27, 2011 and August 28, 2010, respectively, because they were anti-dilutive.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of our foreign operations is the local country's currency. Transaction gains and losses, including gains and losses on our intercompany transactions, are included in other expense (income) in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Assets and liabilities of operations outside the United States are translated into U.S. dollars using period-end exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rates in effect during each month of the fiscal year. The effects of foreign currency translation adjustments are included in shareholders' equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.