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Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies
6 Months Ended
Mar. 27, 2020
Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies  
Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies

1. Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of TE Connectivity Ltd. (“TE Connectivity” or the “Company,” which may be referred to as “we,” “us,” or “our”) have been prepared in United States (“U.S.”) dollars, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”) and the instructions to Form 10-Q under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In management’s opinion, the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contain all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of interim results. The results of operations reported for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the entire fiscal year or any subsequent interim period.

The year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all of the information and disclosures required by GAAP. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2019.

Unless otherwise indicated, references in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements to fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 are to our fiscal years ending September 25, 2020 and ended September 27, 2019, respectively.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

We account for goodwill and other intangible assets in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350, Intangibles–Goodwill and Other, as updated by Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.

Intangible assets include both indeterminable-lived residual goodwill and determinable-lived identifiable intangible assets. Intangible assets with determinable lives primarily include intellectual property, consisting of patents, trademarks, and unpatented technology, and customer relationships. Recoverability estimates range from 1 to 50 years and costs are generally amortized on a straight-line basis. Evaluations of the remaining useful lives of determinable-lived intangible assets are performed on a periodic basis and when events and circumstances warrant.

At March 27, 2020, we had five reporting units, all of which contained goodwill. There were two reporting units in both the Transportation Solutions and Industrial Solutions segments and one reporting unit in the Communications Solutions segment. When changes occur in the composition of one or more reporting units, goodwill is reassigned to the reporting units affected based on their relative fair values.

Goodwill impairment is evaluated by comparing the carrying value of each reporting unit to its fair value on the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter of each year or whenever we believe a triggering event requiring a more frequent assessment has occurred. In assessing the existence of a triggering event, management relies on several reporting unit-specific factors including operating results, business plans, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows, transactions, and market place data. There are inherent uncertainties related to these factors and management’s judgment in applying these factors to the impairment analysis.

When testing for goodwill impairment, we identify potential impairment by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, a goodwill impairment charge will be recorded for the amount of the excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.

Fair value estimates used in the goodwill impairment tests are calculated using an income approach based on the present value of future cash flows of each reporting unit. The income approach has been supported by guideline analyses (a market approach). These approaches incorporate several assumptions including future growth rates, discount rates, income tax rates, and market activity in assessing fair value and are reporting unit specific. Changes in economic and operating conditions impacting these assumptions could result in goodwill impairments in future periods.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2017-04, an update to ASC 350, Intangibles–Goodwill and Other. The update simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. Under the amendments in the update, goodwill impairment should be tested by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge should be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The amendments are to be applied on a prospective basis. We elected to early adopt this update and applied it during the quarter ended March 27, 2020. See Note 6 for additional information regarding the interim goodwill impairment test.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 which codified ASC 842, Leases. This guidance, as subsequently amended, requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset for most leases. We adopted ASC 842, as amended, in the quarter ended December 27, 2019 using the optional transition method permitted by ASU No. 2018-11 which allows for application of the standard at the adoption date and no restatement of comparative periods. We elected to use the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which among other things, allows the carry forward of historical lease classification of existing and expired leases. In addition, we elected to use the hindsight practical expedient in determining the lease term for existing leases. As a result of adoption, we recorded ROU assets and related lease liabilities of approximately $520 million on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Adoption did not have a material impact on our results of operations or cash flows. See Note 9 for additional information regarding leases.