Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Major renewals and betterments are charged to the asset accounts while the cost of maintenance and repairs is charged to expense as incurred. When assets are sold or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts and the resulting gain or loss is credited or charged to income. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over 10 to 20 years for buildings and improvements, 5 to 10 years for machinery and equipment, and 3 to 5 years for transportation equipment.

Income taxes

Deferred taxes are provided for items whose financial and tax bases differ. A valuation allowance is provided against deferred tax assets when it is expected that it is more likely than not that the related asset will not be fully realized.

The Company provides tax reserves for federal, state, local and international exposures relating to audit results, tax planning initiatives and compliance responsibilities. The development of these reserves requires judgments about tax issues, potential outcomes and timing, and is a subjective estimate. Although the outcome of these tax audits is uncertain, in management’s opinion adequate provisions for income taxes have been made for potential liabilities emanating from these reviews. If actual outcomes differ materially from these estimates, they could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations.

Stock-based compensation

In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment.” SFAS No. 123R requires public companies to measure and recognize compensation expense for all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, in the financial statements based on the fair value at the date of the grant. The Statement also clarifies and expands SFAS No. 123’s guidance in several areas, including measuring fair value, classifying an award as equity or as a liability, and attributing compensation cost to reporting periods.  SFAS No. 123R became effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending November 3, 2006. The Company has not issued, awarded, granted or entered into any stock-based payment agreements since April 29, 1999. The modified prospective adoption of SFAS No. 123R did not have any impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations for fiscal year ended November 3, 2006.

Prior to adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123 ‘“Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” which allowed the Company to apply the provisions of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations in accounting for stock-based compensation and, therefore, no compensation expense was recognized for its fixed stock option plans as options are generally granted at fair market value based upon the closing price on the date immediately preceding the grant date.  On December 31, 2002 the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation- Transition and Disclosure”, which amended SFAS No. 123.  SFAS No. 148 requires more prominent and frequent disclosures about the effects of stock-based compensation.  Accordingly, if compensation expense for the Company’s stock options had been recognized, based upon the fair value of awards granted, there would have been no impact on the Company’s net income and earnings per share for fiscal year ended November 2, 2007.