UPDATES TO SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Oct. 02, 2015

The Company has presented revenue and cost of sales separately for products, service and subscriptions. Product revenue includes primarily hardware, software licenses, parts and accessories; service revenue includes primarily hardware and software maintenance and support, training and professional services; subscription revenue includes software as a service (SaaS).

Reclassification, Policy

Historically, the Company allocated stock-based compensation to each segment. Beginning with the first quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company changed its methodology for allocating stock-based compensation to its segments. Stock-based compensation is shown in the aggregate within unallocated corporate expense and is not reflected in the segment results, which is consistent with the way the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM) evaluates each of the segment's performance and allocates resources. The Company has adjusted the presentation of previously reported segment information to conform to the current year methodology within Note 7.

Revision of Prior Year Financial Data, Policy

In the third quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company identified an error in its previously reported financial statements with regard to a portion of its goodwill balance arising from deferred tax liabilities in foreign jurisdictions that had not been properly translated to U.S. dollars. As a result, both goodwill and the cumulative translation adjustment included in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets were overstated and the resulting foreign currency translation adjustment component of Other comprehensive income (loss) was incorrect. There was no impact on Net Income or Cash Flows.

The Company evaluated the impact of the error, both quantitatively and qualitatively, and concluded that the differences were not material individually or in the aggregate to any of the prior reporting periods. The impact has no effect on Net Income or Cash Flows, but in light of the significance of the cumulative amount of the error on comprehensive income on the third quarter and the projected full year 2015, the Company has revised previously issued financial information for periods contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to correct for the foreign currency translation figures. Periods not presented herein will be revised, as applicable, when they are included in future filings. See Note 14 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2014, the FASB issued amendments to guidance for reporting discontinued operations and disposals of components of an entity. The amended guidance requires that a disposal representing a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s financial results or a business activity classified as held for sale should be reported as discontinued operations. The amendments also expand the disclosure requirements for discontinued operations and add new disclosures for individually significant dispositions that do not qualify as discontinued operations. The Company adopted the amendments beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard that replaces the current revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The new standard requires companies to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The revised effective date for the Company under the new standard will be the beginning of fiscal 2018, with early adoption permitted as of the original effective date. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach for the adoption of the standard. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the updated standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2015, the FASB issued amendments to the consolidation guidance. The amendments under the new guidance modify the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (VIEs) or voting interest entities and eliminate the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership. The standard is effective for the Company in fiscal 2016, although early adoption is permitted. The Company does not anticipate a material impact on its consolidated financial statements as a result of the amendments.

In April 2015, the FASB issued amendments to the guidance for debt issuance costs that will require debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability instead of being recorded as an asset. Amortization of the costs will continue to be reported as interest expense. The amendments are effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2016. However, early adoption is permitted and the Company plans to adopt this standard in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. The new guidance will be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented. The Company does not anticipate a material impact on its consolidated financial statements as a result of this change.

In July 2015, the FASB issued amendments to simplify the measurement of inventory. Under the amendments, inventory will be measured at the “lower of cost and net realizable value” and options that currently exist for “market value” will be eliminated. The guidance defines net realizable value as the “estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation”. No other changes were made to the current guidance on inventory measurement. The amendments are effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2017, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the updated standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In September 2015, the FASB issued new guidance related to business combinations. The new guidance requires that any adjustments to provisional amounts in a business combination be recorded in the period such adjustments are determined, rather than retrospectively adjusting previously reported amounts. The standard is effective for the Company in fiscal 2016, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Share-based Compensation Policy

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

The Company accounts for its employee stock options, restricted stock units and employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) under the fair value method, which requires stock-based compensation to be estimated using the fair value on the date of grant. The value of the portion of the award that is expected to vest is recognized as expense over the related employees’ requisite service periods in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock-based compensation (for all plans) included in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the third quarter and the first three quarters of fiscal 2015 and 2014.



	Third Quarter of				First Three Quarters of
	2015		2014		2015		2014
(Dollars in millions)
Cost of sales	$	1.0	$	0.8	$	2.9	$	2.3
Research and development	2.1		1.6		6.4		4.8
Sales and marketing	2.2		2.0		6.7		6.0
General and administrative	7.5		6.6		21.3		19.0
Total operating expenses	11.8		10.2		34.4		29.8
Total stock-based compensation expense	$	12.8	$	11.0	$	37.3	$	32.1

Fair Value of Trimble Options

Stock option expense recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income is based on the fair value of the portion of share-based payment awards that is expected to vest during the period and is net of estimated forfeitures.

The compensation expense related to these awards is valued as of the grant date using a binomial valuation model and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, typically four to five years. The binomial model takes into account variables such as volatility, dividend yield rate and risk free interest rate. In addition, the binomial model incorporates actual option-pricing behavior and changes in volatility over the option’s contractual term. For options granted during the third quarter and the first three quarters of fiscal 2015 and 2014, the following weighted average assumptions were used:



	Third Quarter of		First Three Quarters of
	2015	2014	2015	2014
Expected dividend yield	—	—	—	—
Expected stock price volatility	35.4%	35.4%	35.4%	35.4%
Risk free interest rate	1.2%	0.9%	1.4%	1.2%
Expected life of options	3.8 years	3.9 years	4.3 years	4.0 years

Expected Dividend Yield – The dividend yield assumption is based on the Company’s history and expectation of dividend payouts.

Expected Stock Price Volatility – The Company’s computation of expected volatility is based on a combination of implied volatilities from traded options on the Company’s stock and historical volatility, commensurate with the expected life of the stock options.

Expected Risk Free Interest Rate – The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the expected life of the stock options.

Expected Life Of Options – The Company’s expected life represents the period that the Company’s stock options are expected to be outstanding and is determined based on historical experience of similar stock options with consideration to the contractual terms of the stock options, vesting schedules and expectations of future employee behavior.

Fair Value of Restricted Stock Units

Restricted stock units are converted into shares of Trimble common stock upon vesting, on a one-for-one basis, and typically vest at the end of three years. The compensation expense related to these awards is valued as of the grant date using the fair value of Trimble’s common stock and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

Fair Value of Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Rights to purchase shares are generally granted during the first and third quarter of each year. The compensation expense related to these rights granted under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan is valued as of the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.

Fair Value of Market-Based Restricted Stock Units

Market-based restricted stock units are based on the achievement of the Company’s relative total shareholder return (TSR) of its common stock as compared to the TSR of the constituents of the S&P 500 at the start of the performance period. The number of shares that may be issued will range from 0% to 200% of the units granted. The compensation expense related to these awards is valued as of the grant date using a Monte Carlo simulation and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

Business Combinations Policy

The Company determined the total consideration paid for each of its acquisitions as well as the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of acquisition. For certain acquisitions completed in the last quarter of fiscal 2014 and the first three quarters of fiscal 2015, the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are preliminary and may be adjusted as the Company obtains additional information, primarily related to adjustments for the true up of acquired net working capital in accordance with certain purchase agreements, and estimated values of certain net tangible assets and liabilities including tax balances, pending the completion of final studies and analyses. If there are adjustments made for these items, the fair value of intangible assets and goodwill could be impacted. Thus the provisional measurements of fair value are subject to change. Such changes could be significant. The Company expects to finalize the valuation of the net tangible and intangible assets as soon as practicable, but not later than one-year from the acquisition date.

The fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed were determined under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. The excess of purchase consideration over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. The fair value of intangible assets acquired is generally determined based on a discounted cash flow analysis. Acquisition costs directly related to the acquisitions, including the changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration liabilities, of $2.7 million and $9.8 million for the third quarter and the first three quarters of fiscal 2015, respectively, and $4.1 million and $7.5 million for the corresponding periods of fiscal 2014, respectively, were expensed as incurred and were included in General and administrative expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

Derivatives Asset and Liabilities Policy

Derivative assets and liabilities primarily represent forward currency exchange contracts. The Company typically enters into these contracts to minimize the short-term impact of foreign currency exchange rates on certain trade and inter-company receivables and payables. Derivative assets and liabilities are included in Other current assets and Other current liabilities on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Product Warranties Policy

The Company accrues for warranty costs as part of its cost of sales based on associated material product costs, technical support, labor costs, and costs incurred by third parties performing work on the Company’s behalf. The Company’s expected future costs are primarily estimated based upon historical trends in the volume of product returns within the warranty period and the costs to repair or replace the equipment. The products sold are generally covered by a warranty for periods ranging from 90 days to 5.5 years.

While the Company engages in extensive product quality programs and processes, including actively monitoring and evaluating the quality of component suppliers, its warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates, material usage and service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure. Should actual product failure rates, material usage, or service delivery costs differ from the estimates, revisions to the estimated warranty accrual and related costs may be required.

Income Per Share, Policy

Basic income per share is computed by dividing Net income attributable to Trimble Navigation Ltd. by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted income per share is computed by dividing Net income attributable to Trimble Navigation Ltd. by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if the potentially dilutive securities had been issued. Potentially dilutive securities include outstanding stock options, shares to be purchased under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan and unvested restricted stock units. The dilutive effect of potentially dilutive securities is reflected in diluted income per share by application of the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, an increase in the fair market value of the Company’s common stock can result in a greater dilutive effect from potentially dilutive securities.

Income Tax, Policy

The Company's practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The Company's unrecognized tax benefit liabilities include interest and penalties as of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2015 and fiscal year end 2014, of $5.4 million and $4.7 million, respectively, which were recorded in Other non-current liabilities in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.