1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization and Nature of Operations

Weatherford International plc (“Weatherford Ireland”), an Irish public limited company and Swiss tax resident, together with its subsidiaries (“Weatherford,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our”), is a multinational oilfield service company. Weatherford is one of the world’s leading providers of equipment and services used in the drilling, evaluation, completion, production and intervention of oil and natural gas wells. We operate in approximately 80 countries, which are located in virtually all of the oil and natural gas producing regions in the world. Many of our businesses, including those of our predecessor companies, have been operating for more than 50 years.

Our ordinary shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “WFT.” The authorized share capital of Weatherford Ireland includes 1.356 billion ordinary shares with a par value of $0.001 per share.

Principles of Consolidation

We consolidate all wholly owned subsidiaries and controlled joint ventures. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation, including those related to the adoption of new accounting standards. Prior year net income and shareholders’ deficiency were not affected by these reclassifications. See subsection entitled “New Accounting Pronouncements” for additional details. Our rental and service equipment and accumulated depreciation in 2017 have been revised to reflect certain net assets reclassified to held for sale at December 31, 2017.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions, including those related to uncollectible accounts receivable, lower of cost or net realizable value of inventories, equity investments, derivative financial instruments, intangible assets and goodwill, property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”), income taxes, accounting for long-term contracts, self-insurance, foreign currency exchange rates, pension and post-retirement benefit plans, disputes, litigation, contingencies and share-based compensation. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We establish an allowance for doubtful accounts based on various factors including historical experience, the current aging status of our customer accounts, the financial condition of our customers and the business and political environment in which our customers operate. Provisions for doubtful accounts are recorded when it becomes probable that customer accounts are uncollectible.

Major Customers and Credit Risk

Substantially all of our customers are engaged in the energy industry. This concentration of customers may impact our overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively, in that customers may be similarly affected by changes in economic and industry conditions. We perform on-going credit evaluations of our customers and do not generally require collateral in support of our trade receivables. We maintain allowances for potential credit losses. International sales also present various risks, including risks of war, civil disturbances and governmental activities that may limit or disrupt markets, restrict the movement of funds, or result in the deprivation of contract rights or the taking of property without fair consideration. Most of our international sales are to large international or national oil companies and these sales have resulted in a concentration of receivables from certain national oil companies. As of December 31, 2018, the Eastern Hemisphere accounted for 55% of our net outstanding accounts receivables and the Western Hemisphere accounted for 45% of our net outstanding accounts receivables. As of December 31, 2018, our net outstanding accounts receivable in the U.S. accounted for 18% of our balance and Mexico accounted for 10% of our balance. No other country accounted for more than 10% of our net outstanding accounts receivables balance. During 2018, 2017 and 2016, no individual customer accounted for more than 10% of our consolidated revenues.

Inventories

We value our inventories at lower of cost or net realizable value using either the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) or average cost method. Cost represents third-party invoice or production cost. Production cost includes material, labor and manufacturing overhead. Work in process and finished goods inventories include the cost of materials, labor and manufacturing overhead. To maintain a book value that is the lower of cost or net realizable value, we regularly review inventory quantities on hand and maintain reserves for excess, slow moving and obsolete inventory.

Property, Plant and Equipment

We carry our property, plant and equipment, both owned and under capital lease, at cost less accumulated depreciation. The carrying values are based on our estimates and judgments relative to capitalized costs, useful lives and salvage value, where applicable. We expense maintenance and repairs as incurred. We capitalize expenditures for improvements as well as renewals and replacements that extend the useful life of the asset. We depreciate our fixed assets on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, allowing for salvage value where applicable.

Our depreciation expense was $493 million, $749 million and $896 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The estimated useful lives of our major classes of PP&E are as follows:



Major Classes of Property, Plant and Equipment	Estimated Useful Lives
Buildings and leasehold improvements	10 – 40 years or lease term
Rental and service equipment	2 – 15 years
Machinery and other	2 – 12 years

Assets Held for Sale

We consider businesses or assets to be held for sale when all of the following criteria are met: (a) management commits to a plan to sell the business or asset and (b) the business or asset is available for immediate sale in its present condition and (c) actions required to complete the sale of the business or asset have been initiated and (d) the sale of the business or asset is probable and we expect the completed sale will occur within one year and (e) the business or asset is actively being marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable given its current fair value, and (f) it is unlikely that the plan to sell will be significantly modified or withdrawn.

Upon designation as held for sale, we record the carrying value of each business or asset at the lower of its carrying value or its estimated fair value, less estimated costs to sell, and cease recording depreciation. If at any time these criteria are no longer met, subject to certain exceptions, the assets previously classified as held for sale are reclassified as held and used and measured individually at the lower of the following: (a) the carrying amount before being classified as held for sale, adjusted for any depreciation (amortization) expense that would have been recognized had the asset been continuously classified as held and used or (b) the fair value at the date of the subsequent decision not to sell. During 2018 and 2017, there were no reclassifications from held for sale to held and used.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of consideration paid over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized but is evaluated for impairment. We perform an impairment test for goodwill annually as of October 1 or more frequently if indicators of potential impairment exist that would more-likely-than-not reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying value. We have the option to assess qualitative factors to determine if it is necessary to perform the quantitative step of the impairment test. If it is not more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, further testing is not required. If it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, we must perform the quantitative goodwill impairment test. We also have the unconditional option to bypass the qualitative assessment at any time and perform the quantitative step. The quantitative step of the goodwill impairment test involves a comparison of the fair value of each of our reporting units with their carrying values. If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s goodwill were to exceed its fair value, goodwill impairment is recognized as the difference to the extent of the goodwill balance.

Our intangible assets, excluding goodwill, are acquired technology, licenses, patents, customer relationships and other identifiable intangible assets. These are included in the caption “Other Non-current Assets” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated economic lives generally ranging from two to 20 years, except for intangible assets with indefinite lives, which are not amortized, but tested for impairment. As many areas of our business rely on patents and proprietary technology, we seek patent protection both inside and outside the U.S. for products and methods that appear to have commercial significance. We capitalize patent defense costs when we determine that a successful defense is probable.

Long-Lived Assets

We record our long-lived assets at cost, and review on a regular basis to determine whether any events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the assets or asset group may not be recoverable. Factors that might indicate a potential impairment may include, but are not limited to, significant decreases in the market value of the long-lived asset or asset group, a significant change in the long-lived asset’s physical condition, the introduction of competing technologies, legal challenges, a reduction in the utilization rate of the assets, a change in industry conditions or a reduction in cash flows associated with the use of the long-lived asset. If these or other factors indicate the carrying amount of the asset or asset group may not be recoverable, we determine whether an impairment has occurred through analysis of undiscounted cash flow of the asset or asset group at the lowest level that has an identifiable cash flow. If an impairment has occurred, we recognize a loss for the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the asset or asset group. We estimate the fair value of the asset or asset group using market prices when available or, in the absence of market prices, based on an estimate of discounted cash flows or replacement cost. Cash flows are generally discounted using an interest rate commensurate with a weighted average cost of capital for a similar asset.

Research and Development Expenditures

Research and development expenditures are expensed as incurred.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We record derivative instruments on the balance sheet at their fair value as either assets or liabilities. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in current earnings or other comprehensive income (loss), depending on whether the derivative is designated as part of a hedge relationship, and if so, the type of hedge.

Foreign Currency

Results of operations for our foreign subsidiaries with functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated using average exchange rates during the period. Assets and liabilities of these foreign subsidiaries are translated using the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet dates, and the resulting translation adjustments are included in “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss”, a component of Shareholders’ Deficiency.

For our subsidiaries that have a functional currency that differs from the currency of their balances and transactions, inventories, PP&E and other non-monetary assets and liabilities, together with their related elements of expense or income, are remeasured into the functional currency using historical exchange rates. All monetary assets and liabilities are remeasured into the functional currency at current exchange rates. All revenues and expenses are translated into the functional currency at average exchange rates. Remeasurement gains and losses for these subsidiaries are recognized in our results of operations during the period incurred. We record net foreign currency gains and losses on foreign currency derivatives (see “Note 14 – Derivative Instruments”) in “Other Income (Expense), Net” on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. Devaluation charges on foreign currencies are reported in “Currency Devaluation Charges” on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

As of December 31, 2018, cash and cash equivalents denominated in Angolan kwanza was approximately $28 million.

Share-Based Compensation

We account for all share-based payment awards, including shares issued under employee stock purchase plans, stock options, restricted shares, restricted share units and performance units by measuring these awards at the date of grant and recognizing the grant date fair value as an expense, net of expected forfeitures, over the service period, which is usually the vesting period.

Income Taxes

Income taxes have been provided based upon the tax laws and rates in the countries in which our operations are conducted and income is earned. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is recorded when it is more likely than not that some or all of the benefit from the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The impact of an uncertain tax position taken or expected to be taken on an income tax return is recognized in the financial statements at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the relevant taxing authority.

Disputes, Litigation and Contingencies

We accrue an estimate of costs to resolve certain legal and investigation matters when a loss on these matters is deemed probable and reasonably estimable. For matters not deemed probable or not reasonably estimable, we have not accrued any amounts. Our contingent loss estimates are based upon an analysis of potential results, assuming a combination of possible litigation and settlement strategies. The accuracy of these estimates is impacted by the complexity of the associated issues.

Revenue Recognition

As of January 1, 2018, we adopted the new revenue recognition guidance, ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), and all of the related amendments, collectively Topic 606, using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. We recognized the cumulative effect of initially applying the new guidance as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as of January 1, 2018. The comparative period information has not been adjusted and continues to be reported under the previous revenue standard, the primary accounting policies for which are discussed below.

Our services and products were generally sold based upon purchase orders, contracts or other persuasive evidence of an arrangement with our customers that included fixed or determinable prices but do not generally include right of return provisions or other significant post-delivery obligations. Our products were produced in a standard manufacturing operation, even if produced to our customer’s specifications. Revenue was recognized for products when title passed to the customer, collectability was reasonably assured, delivery occurred as directed by our customer and when the customer assumed the risks and rewards of ownership. Revenue was recognized for services when they are rendered. Both contract drilling and pipeline service revenue is contractual by nature and generally governed by day-rate based contracts. We recognized revenue for day-rate contracts as the services were rendered.

See “Note 2 – New Accounting Pronouncements” and “Note 3 – Revenues” for details on the impact of adoption of the new revenue recognition guidance and our revenue recognition policies.

Earnings (Loss) per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share for all periods presented equals net income (loss) divided by the weighted average number of our shares outstanding during the period including participating securities. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of our shares outstanding during the period including participating securities, adjusted for the dilutive effect of our stock options, restricted shares and performance units.

Unvested share-based payment awards and other instruments issued by the Company that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, whether paid or unpaid, are participating securities and are included in the computation of earnings per share following the two-class method. Accordingly, we include our restricted share awards (“RSA”) and the outstanding warrant until it expires on May 21, 2019, which contain the right to receive dividends, in the computation of both basic and diluted earnings per share when dilutive.