Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principals of Consolidation—The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries in which minority shareholders hold no substantive participating right. Intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. The Company’s share of net earnings of 20% to 50% owned companies, for which it has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies (but not control), are included in “Earnings from unconsolidated entities, net of taxes” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Investments in the other companies are carried at cost.

The Company’s unconsolidated investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting is a partial ownership interest in Zhejiang Xinan Momentive Performance Materials Co., Ltd, a joint venture in China which manufactures siloxane, one of our key intermediate materials. The Company’s current ownership interest in the joint venture is 25%.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Foreign Currency Translations—Assets and liabilities of foreign affiliates are translated at the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Income, expenses and cash flows are translated at average exchange rates during the year. The Company recognized translation gain (losses) of $5, $3, and $(6) for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively, which are included as a component of “Net income (loss).” In addition, gains or losses related to the Company’s intercompany loans payable and receivable denominated in a foreign currency other than the subsidiary’s functional currency that are deemed to be permanently invested are remeasured to cumulative translation and recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The effect of translation is also included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income”.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and also the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. In addition, it requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The most significant estimates that are included in the financial statements are legal liabilities, deferred tax assets and liabilities and related valuation allowances, income tax accruals, pension and postretirement assets and liabilities, valuation allowances for accounts receivable and inventories, general insurance liabilities, asset impairments, fair value of stock awards and fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business acquisitions. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents—The Company considers all highly liquid investments that are purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had interest-bearing time deposits and other cash equivalent investments of $1 and $3, respectively. These amounts are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of “Cash and cash equivalents”.

Receivables, Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts—The allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated using factors such as customer credit ratings and past collection history. Receivables are charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts when it is probable that the receivable will not be collected.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventories—Inventories are stated at lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out method. Costs include direct material, direct labor and applicable manufacturing overheads, which are based on normal production capacity. Abnormal manufacturing costs are recognized as period costs and fixed manufacturing overheads are allocated based on normal production capacity. An allowance is provided for excess and obsolete inventories based on management’s review of inventories on-hand compared to estimated future usage and sales. Inventories in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are presented net of an allowance for excess and obsolete inventory of $23 and $22 at December 31, 2017 and 2016

Deferred Charges, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property and Equipment—Land, buildings and machinery and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the properties (the average estimated useful lives for buildings and machinery are 20 years and 11 years, respectively). Assets under capital leases are amortized over the lesser of their useful life or the lease term. Major renewals and betterments are capitalized. Maintenance, repairs, minor renewals and turnarounds (periodic maintenance and repairs to major units of manufacturing facilities) are expensed as incurred. When property and equipment is retired or disposed of, the asset and related depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in operating income. The Company capitalizes interest costs that are incurred during the construction of property and equipment. Depreciation expense was $116, $143, and $117 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 included accelerated depreciation of $6, $35 and $4, respectively.

Internal Use Software, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Capitalized Software—The Company capitalizes certain costs, such as software coding, installation and testing, that are incurred to purchase or create and implement computer software for internal use. Amortization is recorded on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives, which range from 1 to 5 years.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill and Intangibles—The excess of purchase price over net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of businesses acquired is carried as “Goodwill” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Separately identifiable intangible assets that are used in the operations of the business (e.g., patents and technology, customer lists and contracts) are recorded at cost (fair value at the time of acquisition) and reported as “Other intangible assets, net” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Costs to renew or extend the term of identifiable intangible assets are expensed as incurred. The Company does not amortize goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets. Intangible assets with determinable lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the legal or useful life of the assets, which range from 6 to 13 years (see Note 6).

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Impairment—The Company reviews property and equipment and all amortizable intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability is based on estimated undiscounted cash flows or other relevant observable measures. The Company tests goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment annually, or when events or changes in circumstances indicate impairment may exist, by comparing the estimated fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value to determine if there is an indication that a potential impairment may exist.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

General Insurance [Policy Text Block]

General Insurance—The Company is generally insured for losses and liabilities for workers’ compensation, physical damage to property, business interruption and comprehensive general, product and vehicle liability under high-deductible insurance policies. The Company records losses when they are probable and reasonably estimable and amortizes insurance premiums over the life of the respective insurance policies.

Legal Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Legal Claims and Costs—The Company accrues for legal claims and costs in the period in which a claim is made or an event becomes known, if the amounts are probable and reasonably estimable. Each claim is assigned a range of potential liability and the most likely amount is accrued. If there is no amount in the range of potential liability that is most likely, the low end of the range is accrued. The amount accrued includes all costs associated with the claim, including settlements, assessments, judgments, fines and incurred legal fees (see Note 11).

Environmental Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Environmental Matters—Accruals for environmental matters are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Environmental accruals are reviewed on a quarterly basis and as events and developments warrant (see Note 11).

Asset Retirement Obligations, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Asset Retirement Obligations—Asset retirement obligations are initially recorded at their estimated net present values in the period in which the obligation occurs, with a corresponding increase to the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its settlement value and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. When the liability is settled, a gain or loss is recognized for any difference between the settlement amount and the liability that was recorded.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition—Revenue for product sales, net of estimated allowances and returns, is recognized as risk and title to the product transfer to the customer, which either occurs at the time shipment is made or upon delivery. The Company’s standard terms of delivery are included in its contracts of sale or on its invoices.

Shipping and Handling Cost, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Shipping and Handling—Freight costs that are billed to customers are included in “Net sales” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Shipping costs are incurred to move the Company’s products from production and storage facilities to the customer. Handling costs are incurred from the point the product is removed from inventory until it is provided to the shipper and generally include costs to store, move and prepare the products for shipment. Shipping and handling costs are recorded in “Cost of sales” and “Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Research and Development Costs—Funds are committed to research and development activities for technical improvement of products and processes that are expected to contribute to future earnings. All costs associated with research and development are charged to expense as incurred. Research and development expense was $64, $64, and $65 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Pension and Other Postretirement Liabilities—Pension assumptions are significant inputs to the actuarial models that measure pension benefit obligations and related effects on operations. Two assumptions – discount rate and expected return on assets – are important elements of plan expense and asset/liability measurement. The Company evaluates these critical assumptions at least annually on a plan and country-specific basis. The Company periodically evaluates other assumptions involving demographic factors, such as retirement age, mortality and turnover, and updates them to reflect the Company's experience and expectations for the future. Actual results in any given year will often differ from actuarial assumptions because of economic and other factors.

Accumulated and projected benefit obligations (“PBO”) are measured as the present value of future cash payments. The Company discounts those cash payments using the weighted average of market-observed yields for high quality fixed income securities with maturities that correspond to the payment of benefits.

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company has adopted the granular spot rate approach wherein results are calculated by matching service cost and interest cost cash flows to the individual spot rates on the yield curve using the following methodology:

• Projected benefit payments related to participants’ benefit accruals for the upcoming year are determined.  Spot rates are applied and a present value and single equivalent discount rates specifically related to service cost are calculated (as for projected benefit obligation).

• Interest cost is determined by (1) calculating a present value for each year’s projected benefit payments, then (2) applying the applicable year’s spot rate.  Amounts for all years are then aggregated to determine total interest cost.

 Lower discount rates increase present values resulting in a higher PBO; higher discount rates decrease present values resulting in a lower PBO.  The effect of a discount rate change on the subsequent year’s pension expense is dependent on the individual plan.

To determine the expected long-term rate of return on pension plan assets, the Company considers current and expected asset allocations, as well as historical and expected returns on various categories of plan assets. In developing future return expectations for the principal benefit plans’ assets, the Company evaluates general market trends as well as key elements of asset class returns such as expected earnings growth, yields and spreads across a number of potential scenarios.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes—The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of the assets and liabilities.

Deferred tax balances are adjusted to reflect tax rates, based on current tax laws, which will be in effect in the years in which temporary differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized (see Note 10).

Unrecognized tax benefits are generated when there are differences between tax positions taken in a tax return and amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements. Tax benefits are recognized in the consolidated financial statements when it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination. Tax benefits are measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement. The Company classifies interest and penalties as a component of tax expense.

The majority of the Company’s non-U.S. operations have been treated as branches of the U.S. Company and are included in the MPM and MPM Holdings Inc.’s U.S. consolidated income tax return. For the purpose of the consolidated financial statements, for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the tax provision for all operations has been prepared on a consolidated basis.

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

Stock-Based Compensation—The Company measures and recognizes the compensation expense for all share-based awards made to employees based on estimated fair values, in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. As described in Note 9, the Company adopted a new management equity plan on March 12, 2015. The fair value of stock options granted is calculated using a Monte Carlo option-pricing model on the date of the grant, and the fair value of Restricted Stock Units are valued using the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Compensation expense is recognized net of estimated forfeitures over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant). See Note 9 for additional detail regarding stock-based compensation.

Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Concentrations of Credit Risk—Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk are primarily temporary investments and accounts receivable. The Company places its temporary investments with high quality institutions and, by policy, limits the amount of credit exposure to any one institution. Concentrations of credit risk for accounts receivable are limited due to the large number of customers in the Company’s customer base and their dispersion across many different industries and geographies. The Company generally does not require collateral or other security to support customer receivables.

Concentration of Supplier Risk [Policy Text Block]

Concentrations of Supplier Risk—The Company relies on long-term agreements with key suppliers for most of its raw materials. The loss of a key source of supply or a delay in shipments could have an adverse effect on its business. Should any of the suppliers fail to deliver or should any of the key long-term supply contracts be canceled, the Company would be forced to purchase raw materials at current market prices. The Company’s largest supplier provides approximately 7% of raw material purchases. In addition, several of the feedstocks at various facilities are transported through a pipeline from one supplier.

Subsequent Events, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Subsequent Events—The Company has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2017 through the date of issuance of its Consolidated Financial Statements.

Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Reclassifications—Certain prior period balances have been reclassified to conform with current presentations.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Board Update No. 2014-09: Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 supersedes the existing revenue recognition guidance and most industry-specific guidance applicable to revenue recognition. According to the new guidance, an entity will apply a principles-based five step model to recognize revenue upon the transfer of promised goods or services to customers and in an amount that reflects the consideration for which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Additionally, in March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Board Update No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), which clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. In April 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Board Update No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, which clarifies the identification of performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance. In May 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Board Update No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, which provides clarifying guidance in certain narrow areas and adds some practical expedients. In December 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Board Update No. 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606: Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which facilitates 13 technical corrections and improvements to Topic 606 and other Topics amended by ASU 2014-09 to increase stakeholders’ awareness of the proposals and to expedite improvements to ASU 2014-09. In September 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Board Update No. 2017-13: Revenue Recognition (Topic 605), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Leases (Topic 840), and Leases (Topic 842), which clarifies transition provisions for certain public business entities. The effective dates for the ASUs issued in 2016 and 2017 are the same as the effective date for ASU 2014-09. The revised effective date for ASU 2014-09 is for annual and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective approach or a modified retrospective approach to adopt the guidance in ASU 2014-09. The Company will utilize the modified retrospective approach. The Company has mostly completed its evaluation process to assess the impact of the new guidance on its ongoing financial reporting. The evaluation process included tasks such as performing an analysis to identify relevant revenue streams, reviewing current revenue-based contracts and evaluating revenue recognition requirements in order to prepare a high-level road map and implementation work plan. Based on the evaluation, our current contracts and revenue streams, revenue recognition is mostly consistent under both the previous and new standard.

In July 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Board Update No. 2015-11: Inventory (Topic 330) - Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU 2015-11”). ASU 2015-11 has changed the measurement requirement of inventory within the scope of this guidance from lower of cost or market to the lower of cost and net realizable value. The guidance is also defining net realizable value as: the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period and amendments to be applied prospectively with earlier application permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The adoption of the requirements of ASU 2015-11 during 2017 did not significantly impact the Company’s financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Board Update No. 2016-02: Leases (ASC 842) (“ASU 2016-02”). Pursuant to the guidance in ASU 2016-02, lessees will need to recognize almost all leases on their balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. It will be critical to identify leases embedded in a contract to avoid misstating the lessee’s balance sheet. For income statement purposes, the FASB retained a dual model, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance. Classification will be based on criteria that are largely similar to those applied in current lease accounting, but without explicit bright lines. In September 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Board Update No. 2017-13: Revenue Recognition (Topic 605), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Leases (Topic 840), and Leases (Topic 842), which clarifies transition provisions for certain public business entities. In January 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Board Update No. 2018-01: Leases (Topic 842), which permits an entity to elect an optional transition practical expedient related to land easements. The effective dates for the ASUs issued in 2017 and 2018 are the same as the effective date for ASU 2016-02. ASU 2016-02 is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Board Update No. 2016-15: Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”). ASU 2016-15 provides new guidance designed to reduce existing diversity in practice of how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The ASU addresses eight specific cash flow issues, of which the following are expected to be applicable to the Company: 1) debt prepayment and extinguishment costs, 2) proceeds from settlement of insurance claims, 3) distributions received from equity method investments, and 4) separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. In addition, in November 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Board Update No. 2016-18: Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Restricted Cash ("ASU 2016-18"). ASU 2016-18 clarifies certain existing principles in ASC 230, including providing additional guidance related to transfers between cash and restricted cash and how entities present, in their statement of cash flows, the cash receipts and cash payments that directly affect the restricted cash accounts. These ASUs will be effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2018 and subsequent interim periods, with retrospective application to each period presented being required and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 and ASU 2016-18 will modify the Company's current disclosures and reclassifications within the consolidated statement of cash flows but they are not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Board Update No. 2017-01: Business Combinations (Topic 805) - Clarifying the Definition of a Business (“ASU 2017-01”). The ASU clarifies the definition of business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. ASU 2017-01 will be effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2018 and subsequent interim periods with prospective application with impacts on the Company’s consolidated financial statements that may vary depending on each specific acquisition. Early adoption is conditionally permitted.

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Board Update No.  2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350):Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (“ASU 2017-04”). The ASU 2017-04  eliminates Step 2 of the current goodwill impairment test, which requires a hypothetical purchase price allocation to measure goodwill impairment. A goodwill impairment loss will instead be measured at the amount by which a reporting unit's carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the recorded amount of goodwill. The provisions of this ASU are effective for years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for any impairment test performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017.  The Company early adopted this standard as of October 1, 2017 and this ASU did not have a significant impact on its financial statements or disclosures.

In February 2017 the FASB issued Accounting Standards Board Update No. 2017-05: Other Income - Gains and Loss from Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (subtopic 610-20). The amendments in this ASU provide clarification that nonfinancial assets within the scope of ASC 610-20 may include nonfinancial assets transferred within a legal entity to a counterparty and that an entity should allocate consideration to each distinct asset by applying the guidance in ASC 606 on allocating the transaction price to performance obligations. The amendments in this ASU also require entities to de-recognize a distinct non-financial asset or distinct in substance non-financial asset in a partial sale transaction when it (1) does not have (or ceases to have) a controlling financial interest in the legal entity that holds the asset in accordance with ASC 810 and (2) transfers control of the asset in accordance with ASC 606. The amendments to this ASU are effective in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. The Company does not expect the adoption of the amendments in this ASU to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2017 the FASB issued Accounting Standards Board Update No. 2017-07: Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The ASU requires entities to: 1) disaggregate the current-service-cost component from the other components of net benefit cost (the “other components”) and present it with other current compensation costs for related employees in the income statement and 2) present the other components elsewhere in the income statement and outside of income from operations if that subtotal is presented. In addition, the ASU requires entities to disclose the income statement lines that contain the other components if they are not presented on appropriately described separate lines. The ASU’s amendments are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently assessing this ASU’s impact on its financial statements.

In May 2017 the FASB issued Accounting Standards Board Update No. 2017-09: Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718). The amendments in the ASU provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The ASU’s amendments are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. An entity need to apply the amendments in this ASU on a prospective basis to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements would vary depending on the nature of any potential future changes to share-based payment awards.

All other new accounting pronouncements issued but not yet effective or adopted have been deemed to be not relevant to the Company and, accordingly, are not expected to have an impact once adopted.