Accounting Pronouncements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Accounting Pronouncement [Abstract]

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block]

Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Leases. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)." The main difference between prior lease accounting and ASC 842 is the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under current accounting guidance. Lessees, such as the Company, recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for virtually all of their leases, other than leases that meet the definition of a short-term lease. The liability is equal to the present value of lease payments. The asset is based on the liability, subject to adjustment for items such as initial direct costs. For income statement purposes, ASC 842 retains a dual model, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance. Operating leases result in straight-line expense, while finance leases result in a front-loaded expense pattern, similar to prior capital leases. Classification of operating and finance leases is based on criteria that are largely similar to those applied in

prior lease guidance but without the explicit thresholds. The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2019 utilizing the modified retrospective transition method.

Various practical expedients for the application of ASC 842 were approved, and the Company elected to apply the below:

•a package of practical expedients allowing entities to not reassess (i) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, (ii) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases and (iii) initial direct costs for any existing leases;

•an option that permits an entity to elect a transitional practical expedient, to be applied consistently, to not evaluate under ASC 842 land easements that exist or expired before the entity's adoption of ASC 842 and that were not previously accounted for as leases under ASC 840, "Leases"; and

•an option that permits an entity to elect to initially apply ASC 842 at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption, provided that if an entity elects this additional (and optional) transition method, the entity will provide the required ASC 840 disclosures for all periods that continue to be reported under ASC 840.

The Company evaluated its current lease contracts and, at January 1, 2019, recognized $34.5 million and $39.1 million of operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities, respectively, for railcar, wind farm land and office space leases in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The new standard did not have a material impact on the Company's 2019 Consolidated Statement of Income. Further, the Company evaluated its existing processes and controls regarding lease identification, accounting and presentation and implemented changes as necessary in order to adequately address the requirements of ASC 842.

Financial Instruments-Credit Losses. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, "Financial Instruments-Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Information." The amendments in this update require entities to measure all expected credit losses of financial assets held at a reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts in order to record credit losses in a more timely manner. ASU 2016-13 also amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 2019 and is applied utilizing a modified-retrospective approach. The Company determined the only financial instrument that the Company currently holds and is required to measure under ASU 2016-13 is its trade receivables. Upon adoption of this ASU, the Company considers forecasts of future economic conditions in addition to the historical data utilized prior to ASU 2016-13 when measuring the reserve for trade receivables. The Company evaluated its reserve for trade receivables in light of the new guidance and determined that no adjustment was necessary to the amount recorded as of January 1, 2020.

Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract." The new guidance aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. ASU 2018-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 2019 and can be applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. The Company adopted and prospectively applied the new guidance beginning in the first quarter of 2020, which did not have a material effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements upon adoption.

Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, "Income Taxes (Topic 740)." The new guidance simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in ASC 740 and improves consistent application of existing guidance. ASU 2019-12 will be effective for the Company as of January 1, 2021 and can be early adopted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of these rule changes on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures. In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, "Investments - Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815)." The new guidance makes targeted improvements to address certain aspects of accounting for financial instruments, clarifying the interaction of the accounting for equity securities under ASC 321 and investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting in ASC 323. ASU 2020-01 should be applied prospectively and will be effective for the

Company as of January 1, 2021. The Company is currently assessing the impact of these rule changes on its Consolidated Financial Statements.