12. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of business, we are subject to various legal proceedings and claims, including patent infringement claims, product liability matters, employment disputes, disputes on agreements, other commercial disputes, environmental matters, antitrust claims, and tax matters, including non-income tax matters such as value added tax, sales and use tax, real estate tax, and transfer tax. Although it is not feasible to predict the outcome of these proceedings, based upon our experience, current information, and applicable law, we do not expect that the outcome of these proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material effect on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

Income Tax Matters

Tax Sharing Agreement

In fiscal 2007, we became an independent, publicly traded company owning the former electronics businesses of Tyco International plc ("Tyco International"). On June 29, 2007, Tyco International distributed all of our shares, as well as its shares of its former healthcare businesses ("Covidien"), to its common shareholders (the "separation"). As a result of subsequent transactions, Tyco International and Covidien now operate as part of Johnson Controls International plc and Medtronic plc, respectively.

Upon separation, we entered into a Tax Sharing Agreement, under which we shared responsibility for certain of our, Tyco International's, and Covidien's income tax liabilities based on a sharing formula for periods prior to and including June 29, 2007. We, Tyco International, and Covidien shared 31%, 27%, and 42%, respectively, of U.S. income tax liabilities that arose from adjustments made by tax authorities to our, Tyco International's, and Covidien's U.S. income tax returns. Pursuant to the Tax Sharing Agreement, we entered into certain guarantee commitments and indemnifications with Tyco International and Covidien.

1997-2000 Audit Years

In October 2012, the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") issued special agreement Forms 870-AD, effectively settling its audit of all tax matters for the years 1997 through 2000, excluding one issue involving the tax treatment of certain intercompany debt transactions. The IRS field examination asserted that certain intercompany loans originated during the years 1997 through 2000 did not constitute debt for U.S. federal income tax purposes and disallowed approximately $2.7 billion of related interest deductions recognized during the period on Tyco International's U.S. income tax returns. In addition, if the IRS were ultimately successful in asserting its claim, it likely would have disallowed an additional $6.6 billion of interest deductions reflected on U.S. income tax returns in years subsequent to fiscal 2000. Tyco International disagreed with the IRS position and filed petitions in the U.S. Tax Court contesting the IRS's proposed adjustments.

In January 2016, Tyco International entered into Stipulations of Settled Issues (the "Stipulations") with the IRS intended to resolve all disputes related to the intercompany debt matter discussed above. The Stipulations were contingent upon the Appeals Division of the IRS applying the same settlement or framework to all intercompany debt issues on appeal for subsequent audit cycles (years 2001 through 2007).

During the second quarter of fiscal 2016, we made a pre-payment to the IRS of $443 million, for deficiencies for which we are the primary obligor, to stop the accretion of deficiency interest. Concurrent with remitting this payment, we were reimbursed $305 million by Tyco International and Covidien pursuant to their indemnifications for pre-separation tax matters. In addition, we paid $2 million to Covidien for our share of deficiencies for which Covidien was the primary obligor. As a result, our net cash payment in connection with the disputed debt matter was $140 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2016.

In May 2016, the U.S. Tax Court entered orders consistent with the Stipulations and dismissed the petitions as settled and the Appeals Division of the IRS issued special agreement Forms 870-AD that effectively settled the matters on appeal on the same terms as those set forth in the Stipulations. As a result, we have resolved all aspects of the disputed debt matter before the U.S. Tax Court (for the 1997 through 2000 audit cycle) and before the Appeals Division of the IRS for subsequent audit cycles (2001 through 2007). In addition, we expect the terms of the resolution for the disputed debt matter will be consistently applied by the IRS to all of our U.S. income tax returns filed subsequent to fiscal 2007.

As a result of these developments, in fiscal 2016, we recognized an income tax benefit of $1,135 million, representing a reduction in tax reserves, and other expense of $604 million, representing a reduction of associated indemnification receivables, pursuant to the Tax Sharing Agreement with Tyco International and Covidien. The U.S. tax loss and credit carryforwards finalized as a result of the settlement of the disputed debt matter were assessed for realizability in fiscal 2016 and included in our valuation allowance analysis. See Note 15 for further information regarding the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.

2001-2007 Audit Years

In fiscal 2015, the IRS issued general agreement Forms 870, effectively settling its audits of tax matters for the years 2001 through 2007, excluding the disputed debt matter which was subsequently resolved during fiscal 2016. As a result of these developments, in fiscal 2015, we recognized an income tax benefit of $201 million, representing a reduction in tax reserves for the matters that were effectively settled, and other expense of $84 million, representing a reduction of associated indemnification receivables, pursuant to the Tax Sharing Agreement with Tyco International and Covidien.

2008-2010 Audit Years

In fiscal 2015, the IRS issued general agreement Forms 870, effectively settling its audits of tax matters for the years 2008 through 2010, excluding the disputed debt matter. As discussed above, we expect the terms of the resolution for the disputed debt matter will be consistently applied by the IRS to all of our U.S. income tax returns filed subsequent to fiscal 2007. As a result of these developments, in fiscal 2015, we recognized an income tax benefit of $63 million, representing a reduction in tax reserves for the matters that were effectively settled.

Environmental Matters

We are involved in various stages of investigation and cleanup related to environmental remediation matters at a number of sites. The ultimate cost of site cleanup is difficult to predict given the uncertainties regarding the extent of the required cleanup, the interpretation of applicable laws and regulations, and alternative cleanup methods. As of fiscal year end 2016, we concluded that it was probable that we would incur remedial costs in the range of $17 million to $42 million, and that the best estimate within this range was $20 million. We believe that any potential payment of such estimated amounts will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

Leases

We have facility, land, vehicle, and equipment leases that expire at various dates. Rental expense under these leases was $143 million, $141 million, and $130 million for fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. At fiscal year end 2016, the minimum lease payment obligations under non-cancelable lease obligations were as follows:

	(in millions)
Fiscal 2017	$	106
Fiscal 2018		86
Fiscal 2019		66
Fiscal 2020		47
Fiscal 2021		41
Thereafter		98

Total	$	444

Guarantees

In disposing of assets or businesses, we often provide representations, warranties, and/or indemnities to cover various risks including unknown damage to assets, environmental risks involved in the sale of real estate, liability for investigation and remediation of environmental contamination at waste disposal sites and manufacturing facilities, and unidentified tax liabilities and legal fees related to periods prior to disposition. We do not expect that these uncertainties will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

At fiscal year end 2016, we had outstanding letters of credit, letters of guarantee, and surety bonds of $324 million.

In the normal course of business, we are liable for contract completion and product performance. In the opinion of management, such obligations will not significantly affect our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

We generally record estimated product warranty costs when contract revenues are recognized under the percentage-of-completion method for construction related contracts; other warranty reserves are not significant. The estimation is based primarily on historical experience and actual warranty claims. Amounts accrued for warranty claims at fiscal year end 2016 and 2015 were $48 million and $35 million, respectively.