CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

ADOPTION OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS and FUTURE ACCOUNTING POLICY CHANGES

ADOPTION OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Clarifying Interaction between Collaborative Arrangements and Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Effective January 1, 2020, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2018-18 on a retrospective basis. The new standard was issued in November 2018 to provide clarity on when transactions between entities in a collaborative arrangement should be accounted for under the new revenue standard, Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606. In determining whether transactions in collaborative arrangements should be accounted for under the revenue standard, the update specifies that entities shall apply unit of account guidance to identify distinct goods or services and whether such goods and services are separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. ASU 2018-18 also precludes entities from presenting transactions with a collaborative partner which are not in scope of the new revenue standard together with revenue from contracts with customers. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Disclosure Effectiveness

Effective January 1, 2020, we adopted ASU 2018-13 on both a retrospective and prospective basis depending on the change. The new standard was issued to improve the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by eliminating and modifying some disclosures, while also adding new disclosures. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Accounting for Credit Losses

Effective January 1, 2020, we adopted ASU 2016-13 on a modified retrospective basis.

The new standard was issued in June 2016 with the intent of providing financial statement users with more useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. The previous accounting treatment used the incurred loss methodology for recognizing credit losses that delayed the recognition until it was probable a loss had been incurred. The accounting update adds a new impairment model, known as the current expected credit loss model, which is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. Under the new guidance, an entity recognizes as an allowance its estimate of expected credit losses, which the Financial Accounting Standards Board believes results in more timely recognition of such losses.

Further, ASU 2018-19 was issued in November 2018 to clarify that operating lease receivables should be accounted for under the new leases standard, ASC 842, and are not within the scope of ASC 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses.

For accounts receivable, a loss allowance matrix is utilized to measure lifetime expected credit losses. The matrix contemplates historical credit losses by age of receivables, adjusted for any forward-looking information and management expectations. Other loan receivables and off-balance sheet commitments in scope of the new standard utilize a discounted cash flow methodology which calculates the current expected credit losses based on historical default probability rates associated with the credit rating of the counterparty and the related term of the loan or commitment, adjusted for forward-looking information and management expectations.

On January 1, 2020 we recorded $66 million of additional Deficit on our Statements of Financial Position in connection with the adoption of ASU 2016-13. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings, Comprehensive Income or Cash Flows during the period.

FUTURE ACCOUNTING POLICY CHANGES

Reference Rate Reform

ASU 2020-04 was issued in March 2020 to provide temporary optional guidance in accounting for reference rate reform. The new guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles when accounting for contract modifications, hedging relationships and other transactions impacted by rate reform, subject to meeting certain criteria. ASU 2020-04 is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. We are currently assessing the impact of the new standard and the rate reform on our consolidated financial statements.

Clarifying Interaction between Equity Securities, Equity Method Investments and Derivatives

ASU 2020-01 was issued in January 2020 and clarifies that observable transactions should be considered for the purpose of applying the measurement alternative in accordance with ASC 321 immediately before the application or upon discontinuance of the equity method of accounting. Furthermore, the ASU clarifies that forward contracts or purchased options on equity securities are not out of scope of ASC 815 guidance only because, upon the contracts’ exercise, the equity securities could be accounted for under the equity method of accounting or fair value option. ASU 2020-01 is effective January 1, 2021 with early adoption permitted and is applied prospectively. We are currently assessing the impact of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements.

Accounting for Income Taxes

ASU 2019-12 was issued in December 2019 with the intent of simplifying the accounting for income taxes. The accounting update removes certain exceptions to the general principles in ASC 740 as well as provides simplification by clarifying and amending existing guidance. ASU 2019-12 is effective January 1, 2021 and entities are permitted to adopt the standard early. We are currently assessing the impact of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements.

Disclosure Effectiveness

ASU 2018-14 was issued in August 2018 to improve disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. The amendment modifies the current guidance by adding and removing several disclosure requirements while also clarifying the guidance on current disclosure requirements. ASU 2018-14 is effective January 1, 2021 and entities are permitted to adopt the standard early. The adoption of ASU 2018-14 is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.