Summary of Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Our consolidated financial statements include all majority-owned subsidiaries. We carry investments in 20 percent to 50 percent owned companies in which the Company does not have a controlling interest, as equity method investments, at cost plus equity in undistributed earnings since the date of acquisition and cumulative translation adjustments. We have eliminated intercompany transactions. We have evaluated all subsequent events through the date our financial statements were issued.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates include among others, allowances for doubtful receivables, promotional and product returns, income taxes, pension and postretirement benefit plans, and contingencies.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

We have noncontrolling interests in five joint ventures with redemption features that could require us to purchase the noncontrolling interests at fair value in the event of a change in control of Tenneco Inc. or certain of our subsidiaries. We do not believe that it is probable that the redemption features in any of these joint venture agreements will be triggered. However, the redemption of these shares is not solely within our control. Accordingly, the related noncontrolling interests are presented as “Redeemable noncontrolling interests” in the temporary equity section of our consolidated balance sheets.

Inventories

Our inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) or average cost methods.

Goodwill and Intangibles, net

We evaluate goodwill for impairment in the fourth quarter of each year, or more frequently if events indicate it is warranted. The goodwill impairment test consists of a two-step process. In step one, we compare the estimated fair value of our reporting units with goodwill to the carrying value of the unit’s assets and liabilities to determine if impairment exists within the recorded balance of goodwill. We estimate the fair value of each reporting unit using the income approach which is based on the present value of estimated future cash flows. The income approach is dependent on a number of factors, including estimates of market trends, forecasted revenues and expenses, capital expenditures, weighted average cost of capital and other variables. A separate discount rate derived by a combination of published sources, internal estimates and weighted based on our debt to equity ratio, was used to calculate the discounted cash flows for each of our reporting units. These estimates are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and outside of the control of management. If the carrying value of the reporting unit is higher than its fair value, there is an indication that impairment may exist which requires step two to be performed to measure the amount of the impairment loss. The amount of impairment is determined by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill to its carrying value.

Plant, Property, and Equipment, at Cost

We depreciate these properties excluding land on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Useful lives range from 10 to 50 years for buildings and improvements and from 3 to 25 years for machinery and equipment.

Notes and Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Receivables consist of amounts billed and currently due from customers and unbilled pre-production design and development costs.

Pre-production Design and Development and Tooling Assets

We expense pre-production design and development costs as incurred unless we have a contractual guarantee for reimbursement from the original equipment customer.

Internal Use Software Assets

We capitalize certain costs related to the purchase and development of software that we use in our business operations. We amortize the costs attributable to these software systems over their estimated useful lives, ranging from 3 to 12 years, based on various factors such as the effects of obsolescence, technology, and other economic factors.

Income Taxes

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities on the basis of the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences that exist between the financial statement carrying value of assets and liabilities and their respective tax values, and net operating losses ("NOL") and tax credit carryforwards on a taxing jurisdiction basis. We measure deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates that will apply in the years in which we expect the temporary differences to be recovered or paid.

We evaluate our deferred income taxes quarterly to determine if valuation allowances are required or should be adjusted. U.S. GAAP requires that companies assess whether valuation allowances should be established against their deferred tax assets based on consideration of all available evidence, both positive and negative, using a “more likely than not” standard. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and amount of recent losses, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, and tax planning strategies. In making such judgments, significant weight is given to evidence that can be objectively verified.

Valuation allowances have been established in certain foreign jurisdictions for deferred tax assets based on a “more likely than not” threshold. The ability to realize deferred tax assets depends on our ability to generate sufficient taxable income within the carryforward periods provided for in the tax law for each tax jurisdiction. We have considered the following possible sources of taxable income when assessing the realization of our deferred tax assets:


•	Future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences;


•	Taxable income or loss, based on recent results, exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards;


•	Tax-planning strategies; and


•	Taxable income in prior carryback years if carryback is permitted under the relevant tax law.

The valuation allowances recorded against deferred tax assets generated by taxable losses in foreign jurisdictions will impact our provision for income taxes until the valuation allowances are released. Our provision for income taxes will include no tax benefit for losses incurred and no tax expense with respect to income generated in these jurisdictions until the respective valuation allowance is eliminated.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue for sales to our original equipment and aftermarket customers when title and risk of loss passes to the customers under the terms of our arrangements with those customers, which is usually at the time of shipment from our plants or distribution centers. Generally, in connection with the sale of exhaust systems to certain original equipment manufacturers, we purchase catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters or components thereof including precious metals (“substrates”) on behalf of our customers which are used in the assembled system. These substrates are included in our inventory and “passed through” to the customer at our cost, plus a small margin, since we take title to the inventory and are responsible for both the delivery and quality of the finished product. Revenues recognized for substrate sales were $2,028 million, $1,916 million and $1,934 million in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. For our aftermarket customers, we provide for promotional incentives and returns at the time of sale. Estimates are based upon the terms of the incentives and historical experience with returns. Certain taxes assessed by governmental authorities on revenue producing transactions, such as value added taxes, are excluded from revenue and recorded on a net basis. Shipping and handling costs billed to customers are included in revenues and the related costs are included in cost of sales in our consolidated statements of income (loss).

Warranty Reserves

Where we have offered product warranty, we also provide for warranty costs. Provisions for estimated expenses related to product warranty are made at the time products are sold or when specific warranty issues are identified on OE products. These estimates are established using historical information about the nature, frequency, and average cost of warranty claims and upon specific warranty issues as they arise. The warranty terms vary but range from one year up to limited lifetime warranties on some of our premium aftermarket products. We actively study trends of our warranty claims and take action to improve product quality and minimize warranty claims. While we have not experienced any material differences between these estimates and our actual costs, it is reasonably possible that future warranty issues could arise that could have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Earnings Per Share

We compute basic earnings per share by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. The computation of diluted earnings per share is similar to the computation of basic earnings per share, except that we adjust the weighted-average number of shares outstanding to include estimates of additional shares that would be issued if potentially dilutive common shares had been issued. In addition, we adjust income available to common shareholders to include any changes in income or loss that would result from the assumed issuance of the dilutive common shares.

Engineering, Research and Development

We expense engineering, research, and development costs as they are incurred. Engineering, research, and development expenses were $154 million for 2016, $146 million for 2015, and $169 million for 2014, net of reimbursements from our customers. Our customers reimburse us for engineering, research, and development costs on some platforms when we prepare prototypes and incur costs before platform awards.

Advertising and Promotion Expenses

We expense advertising and promotion expenses as they are incurred.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency

We translate the consolidated financial statements of foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate at each balance sheet date for assets and liabilities and a weighted-average exchange rate for revenues and expenses in each period. We record translation adjustments for those subsidiaries whose local currency is their functional currency as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity. We recognize transaction gains and losses arising from fluctuations in currency exchange rates on transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency in earnings as incurred, except for those intercompany balances which are designated as long-term investments.

Risk Management Activities

We use derivative financial instruments, principally foreign currency forward purchase and sales contracts with terms of less than one year, to hedge our exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Our primary exposure to changes in foreign currency rates results from intercompany loans made between affiliates to minimize the need for borrowings from third parties. Additionally, we enter into foreign currency forward purchase and sale contracts to mitigate our exposure to changes in exchange rates on certain intercompany and third-party trade receivables and payables. We manage counter-party credit risk by entering into derivative financial instruments with major financial institutions that can be expected to fully perform under the terms of such agreements. We do not enter into derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes. In managing our foreign currency exposures, we identify and aggregate existing offsetting positions and then hedge residual exposures through third-party derivative contracts. The fair value of our foreign currency forward contracts was a net liability position of less than $1 million at December 31, 2016 and a net asset position of $1 million at December 31, 2015 and is based on an internally developed model which incorporates observable inputs including quoted spot rates, forward exchange rates and discounted future expected cash flows utilizing market interest rates with similar quality and maturity characteristics. We record the change in fair value of these foreign exchange forward contracts as part of currency gains (losses) within cost of sales in the consolidated statements of income (loss). The fair value of foreign exchange forward contracts are recorded in prepayments and other current assets or other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows - Restricted Cash (Topic 230) to eliminate diversity in practice in the presentation of restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. For public business entities, the standard is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update 2016-16, Income Taxes - Intra Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (Topic 740). The new standard changes the accounting for income taxes when a company transfers certain tangible and intangible assets, such as equipment or intellectual property, between entities in different tax jurisdictions. The new standard does not change the current accounting for the income taxes related to transfers of inventory. For public business entities, the standard is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. The areas for simplification in this update involve several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. For public business entities, the standard is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The amendments in this update create Topic 842, Leases, and supersede the leases requirements in Topic 840, Leases. Topic 842 specifies the accounting for leases. The objective of Topic 842 is to establish the principles that lessees and lessors shall apply to report useful information to users of financial statements about the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flow arising from a lease. For public business entities, the standard is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those annual periods. We will adopt this amendment on January 1, 2019. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of this new guidance on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In May 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) No. 2015-07, Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent). ASU No. 2015-07 removes the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient. Such investments should be disclosed separate from the fair value hierarchy. For public business entities, the standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this guidance does not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements but will impact pension asset disclosure.

In May 2014, the FASB issued an amendment on revenue recognition. The amendment in this update creates Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, including most industry-specific revenue recognition guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification. In addition, the amendment supersedes the cost guidance in Subtopic 605-35, Revenue Recognition-Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts, and creates new Subtopic 340-40, Other Assets and Deferred Costs-Contracts with Customers. The core principle of Topic 606 is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The FASB approved a one-year deferral of the effective date from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2018, while allowing for early adoption as of January 1, 2017 for public entities. We will adopt this amendment on January1, 2018.

The guidance permits the use of either the retrospective or modified retrospective (cumulative effect) transition method and we have not yet selected which transition method we will apply.

We have established a cross-functional coordinated team to implement the guidance related to the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. We are in the process of assessing our customer contracts, identifying contractual provisions that may result in a change in the timing or the amount of revenue recognized in comparison with current guidance, as well as assessing the enhanced disclosure requirements of the new guidance. Under current guidance we generally recognize revenue when products are shipped and risk of loss has transferred to the customer. Under the proposed requirements, the customized nature of some of our products combined with contractual provisions that provide us with an enforceable right to payment, may require us to recognize revenue prior to the product being shipped to the customer. We are also assessing pricing provisions contained in certain of our customer contracts. Pricing provisions contained in some of our customer contracts represent variable consideration or may provide the customer with a material right, potentially resulting in a different allocation of the transaction price than under current guidance. In addition, we are evaluating how the new guidance may impact our accounting for contractually guaranteed reimbursements related to customer tooling, engineering services and pre-production costs. Under the current applicable guidance, these customer reimbursements are recorded as cost recovery offsets; whereas under the new standard these guaranteed recoveries may represent consideration from contracts with customers and be recorded as revenues. We continue to evaluate the impact this guidance will have on our financial statements.

Restricted Net Assets

In certain countries where we operate, transfers of funds out of such countries by way of dividends, loans or advances are subject to certain central bank restrictions which require approval from the central bank authorities prior to transferring funds out of these countries. The countries in which we operate that have such restrictions include China, South Africa, and Thailand.