Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Principles of Consolidation: The accompanying financial statements comprise the consolidated financial statements of L3. The consolidated financial statements of the Company include all wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities (VIEs) if the Company is the primary beneficiary. The Company also holds interests in certain VIEs for which it was determined the Company is not the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in equity securities, joint ventures and limited liability corporations over which the Company has significant influence but does not have voting control are accounted for using the equity method. Investments over which the Company does not have significant influence are accounted for using the cost method. For the classification of certain current assets and liabilities, the Company uses the duration of the related contract or program as its operating cycle, which may be longer than one year.

Certain reclassifications have been made to conform prior-year amounts to the current-year presentation.

Accounting Estimates

Accounting 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 and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of sales and cost of sales during the reporting period. The most significant of these estimates and assumptions relate to sales, profit and loss recognition for performance obligations satisfied over time, fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations and investments, market values for inventories reported at lower of cost or market, pension and post-retirement benefit obligations, stock-based employee compensation expense, income taxes, including the valuations of deferred tax assets, litigation reserves, useful lives and valuation of recorded amounts of long-lived assets, identifiable intangible assets and goodwill. Changes in estimates are reflected in the periods during which they become known. Actual amounts may differ from these estimates and could differ materially.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition: Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, as amended (commonly referred to as ASC 606), using the modified retrospective transition method. The cumulative effect of applying the standard was an increase of $13 million to shareholders' equity as of January 1, 2018. The Company’s statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2018 and the Company’s balance sheet as of December 31, 2018 are presented under ASC 606, while the Company’s statement of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 and the Company’s balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 are presented under ASC 605, Revenue Recognition.

A substantial majority of the Company’s consolidated net sales are generated from long-term contracts with customers that require it to design, develop, manufacture, modify, upgrade, test and integrate complex aerospace and electronic equipment and to provide engineering and technical services according to the customers’ specifications. These contracts are primarily with agencies of, and prime system contractors to, the U.S. Government and foreign governments and are generally priced on a fixed-price, cost-plus or time-and-material type basis. Substantially all of the Company's cost-plus and time-and-material type contracts are with the U.S. Government, primarily the DoD. Certain of the Company’s contracts with the U.S. Government are multi-year contracts incrementally funded by the customer. The transaction price for these incrementally funded contracts includes contract value amounts not yet funded by the U.S. Government when the Company has a firm order for the goods or services and it is probable that the customer will fund such amounts. In assessing probability, the Company considers, among other factors, the period of time before contract funding is expected, communication from the customer that indicates funding will be obtained and the Company's history of receiving funding under the current contract or previous similar contracts. The Company also generates sales to a lesser extent from contracts with commercial and government customers for standard product and service offerings, which are priced on a firm fixed basis. See Note 22 for additional information regarding the composition of the Company’s net sales.

The Company records sales for a contract when it has the approval and commitment of all parties, the contract identifies the rights of the parties and payment terms, the contract has commercial substance and collectability of the consideration is probable.

To determine the proper revenue recognition method, the Company first evaluates each of its contractual arrangements to identify its performance obligations. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer. The majority of the Company’s contracts have a single performance obligation because the promise to transfer the individual good or service is not separately identifiable from other promises within the contract and is, therefore, not distinct. These contractual arrangements either require the use of a highly specialized manufacturing process to provide goods according to customer specifications or represent a bundle of contracted goods and services that are integrated and together represent a combined output, which may include the delivery of multiple units. Some of the Company's contracts have multiple performance obligations, primarily (i) related to the provision of multiple goods or services that have alternative use to the Company or that are not substantially the same or (ii) due to the contract covering multiple phases of the product lifecycle (development and engineering, production, maintenance and support). For contracts with more than one performance obligation, the Company allocates the total transaction price in an amount based on the estimated relative standalone selling prices underlying each performance obligation. In cases where a contract requires a customized good or service, the primary method used to estimate standalone selling price is the expected cost plus a margin approach. In cases where the Company sells a standard product or service offering, the standalone selling price is based on an observable standalone selling price.

The majority of the Company's sales are from performance obligations satisfied over time and are primarily with agencies of, and prime system contractors to, the U.S. Government and foreign governments. Sales are recognized over time when control is continuously transferred to the customer during the contract. For U.S. Government contracts, the continuous transfer of control to the customer is supported by contract clauses that provide for (i) progress or performance-based payments or (ii) the unilateral right of the customer to terminate the contract for its convenience, in which case the Company has the right to receive payment for costs incurred plus a reasonable profit for products and services that do not have alternative use to the Company. Foreign government and certain commercial contracts contain similar termination for convenience clauses, or the Company has a legally enforceable right to receive payment for costs incurred and a reasonable profit for products or services that do not have alternative use to the Company. Sales on fixed price and cost-plus type contracts that include performance obligations satisfied over time are generally recorded at amounts equal to the ratio of actual cumulative costs incurred divided by total estimated costs at completion, multiplied by (i) the transaction price, less (ii) the cumulative sales recognized in prior periods (cost-to-cost method).

Accounting for the sales and profits on performance obligations for which progress is measured using the cost-to-cost method involves the preparation of estimates of: (1) transaction price and (2) total costs at completion, which is equal to the sum of the actual incurred costs to date on the contract and the estimated costs to complete the contract's statement of work. Incurred costs include labor, material, overhead and, for the Company's U.S. Government contractor businesses, general and administrative (G&A) expenses. Incurred costs represent work performed, which corresponds with and thereby represents the transfer of control to the customer. The estimated profit or loss at completion on a contract is equal to the difference between the transaction price and the total estimated cost at completion. In the case of a contract related to complex aerospace or electronic equipment for which the total estimated costs exceed the total transaction price, a loss arises, and a provision for the entire loss is recorded in the period that the loss becomes evident. The unrecoverable costs on a loss contract that are expected to be incurred in future periods are presented on the balance sheet as a component of other current liabilities entitled "Estimated cost in excess of estimated contract value to complete contracts in process in a loss position." See Note 8 for additional information.

The Company’s contracts give rise to variable consideration, including award and incentive fees, as well as amounts incrementally funded by the U.S. Government, or other provisions that can either increase or decrease the transaction price. Award fees provide for a fee based on actual performance relative to contractually specified performance criteria. Incentive fees provide for a fee based on the relationship between total allowable costs and target costs. Variable consideration may require the Company to exercise significant judgment to determine the total transaction price of the contract. The Company includes variable consideration in the transaction price when there is a basis to reasonably estimate the variable amount it will be entitled to receive and it is probable that a significant reversal in revenue recognized will not be required when the uncertainty is resolved. These estimates are based on historical experience, current and forecasted performance, and the Company’s judgment at the time of the evaluation.

Contract modifications routinely occur to account for changes in contract specifications or requirements. In most cases, contract modifications are for goods or services that are not distinct and, therefore, are accounted for as part of the existing contract. Transaction price estimates include additional consideration for submitted contract modifications or claims when the Company believes it has an enforceable right to the modification or claim, the amount can be reliably estimated and its realization is reasonably assured. Amounts representing modifications accounted for as part of the existing contract are included in the transaction price and recognized as an adjustment to sales on a cumulative catch-up basis.

The Company’s fixed-price type contracts with the U.S. Government typically allow for progress payments or performance-based payments. Progress payments are billed to the customer as contract costs are incurred at an amount generally equal to 80% of incurred costs. Performance based payments are billed to the customer upon the achievement of predetermined performance milestones at amounts not to exceed 90% of contract price. On contracts with progress or performance-based payments, the customer often retains a small portion of the contract price until satisfactory completion of the contractual statement of work. Since a small portion of the contract price is retained, the Company generally recognizes sales in excess of billings, which are presented as contract assets on the balance sheet. The portion of the contract price retained by the customer is a normal business practice to ensure satisfactory contract completion and, therefore, is not considered a significant financing component. Contract assets also arise from cost-plus type contracts, time-and-material type contracts and fixed-price services type contracts for revenue amounts that have not been billed by the end of the accounting period due to the timing of preparation of invoices to customers. For certain fixed-price contracts with foreign governments and commercial customers, the Company receives advance payments. Advanced payments are not considered a significant financing component because they are a negotiated contract term to ensure the customer meets its financial obligation, particularly when there are significant upfront working capital requirements. The Company records a liability for advance payments received in excess of sales recognized, which is presented as a contract liability on the balance sheet.

Revisions or adjustments to estimates of the transaction price, estimated costs at completion and estimated profit or loss of a performance obligation may be required as work progresses under a contract, as experience is gained, as facts and circumstances change and as new information is obtained, even though the scope of work required under the contract may not change. Revisions or adjustments may also be required if contract modifications occur. The impact of revisions in profit or loss estimates are recognized on a cumulative catch-up basis in the period in which the revisions are made. The revisions in contract estimates, if significant, can materially affect the Company’s results of operations and cash flows, as well as reduce the valuations of contract assets, and in some cases result in liabilities to complete contracts in a loss position. Net sales recognized from the Company's performance obligations partially satisfied in prior periods were $264 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 and relate to revisions in contract estimates. The aggregate impact of net changes in contract estimates is presented in the table below.



	Year Ended December 31,
	2018		2017		2016
	(in millions, except per share data)
Operating income	$	213	$	185	$	149
Diluted earnings per share	$	2.03	$	1.49	$	1.23

Sales from performance obligations satisfied at a point in time are typically for standard goods and are recognized when the customer obtains control, which is generally upon delivery and acceptance. The Company also records sales for performance obligations relating to standard services (i.e., maintenance and extended warranties covering standard goods sold by the Company) over time by using output measures of time elapsed to measure progress toward satisfying the performance obligation.

Sales on time-and-material type contracts are generally recognized each period based on the amount billable to the customer, which is based on direct labor hours expended multiplied by the contractual fixed rate per hour, plus the actual costs of materials and other direct non-labor costs.

The following table presents a summary of the Company’s net sales by revenue recognition method as a percentage of total net sales for the year ended December 31, 2018.



	% of Total Net Sales
Over time (cost-to-cost method)	74	%
Point in time	19	%
Output method	4	%
Billing method	3	%
Total	100	%

Remaining Performance Obligations: On December 31, 2018, the Company had $11.6 billion of remaining performance obligations, which represents the transaction price of firm orders less inception to date sales recognized. Remaining performance obligations exclude unexercised contract options and potential orders under basic ordering agreements or master-type contracts (i.e., indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity). The Company expects to recognize sales relating to existing performance obligations of approximately $7.3 billion in 2019, $2.7 billion in 2020, $0.7 billion in 2021 and $0.9 billion in the periods thereafter.

Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities: Contract assets include unbilled contract receivables related to long-term contracts for which sales and profits are recognized primarily using cost-to-cost method of accounting and are classified as current. Unbilled contract receivables are reduced by amounts of unliquidated progress or performance-based payments. Under the terms of certain revenue arrangements (contracts) with the U.S. Government, the Company is entitled to receive progress payments as costs are incurred or performance-based payments upon the achievement of predetermined performance milestones. Unliquidated progress or performance-based payments arise from fixed-price type contracts with the U.S. Government that contain progress or performance-based payment clauses, and represent payments on invoices that have been collected in cash, but have not yet been liquidated. Progress payment invoices are billed to the customer as contract costs are incurred at an amount generally equal to 80% of incurred costs. Performance based payments are billed to the customer upon the achievement of predetermined performance milestones at amounts not to exceed 90% of contract price. Unliquidated progress or performance-based payments are liquidated as deliveries or other contract performance milestones are completed, at an amount equal to a percentage of the contract sales price for the items delivered or work performed, based on a contractual liquidation rate. Contract liabilities include advance payments, billings in excess of the revenue recognized and amounts received in excess of sales recognized on contracts (deferred revenue). Contract assets and liabilities are reported in a net position on a contract-by-contract basis at the end of each reporting period. Advance payments and billings in excess of revenue recognized are classified as current, and deferred revenue as current or noncurrent based on the timing of expected revenue recognition. The noncurrent portion of deferred revenue is included in other liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

Contracts in Process: Contracts in Process include unbilled contract receivables and inventoried contract costs for which sales and profits are recognized primarily using a POC method of accounting under ASC 605. Unbilled Contract Receivables represent accumulated incurred costs and earned profits on contracts in process that have been recorded as sales, primarily using the cost-to-cost method, but have not been billed to customers. Inventoried Contract Costs primarily represent incurred costs on contracts using the units-of-delivery method of accounting and include direct costs and indirect costs, including overhead costs, and materials acquired for U.S. Government service contracts. As discussed in Note 5, the Company’s inventoried contract costs for U.S. Government contracts, and contracts with prime contractors or subcontractors of the U.S. Government include allocated G&A, IRAD costs and B&P costs. Contracts in Process contain amounts relating to contracts and programs with long performance cycles, a portion of which may not be realized within one year. For contracts in a loss position, the unrecoverable costs expected to be incurred in future periods are recorded in Estimated Costs in Excess of Estimated Contract Value to Complete Contracts in Process in a Loss Position, which is a component of Other Current Liabilities. Under the terms of certain revenue arrangements (contracts) with the U.S. Government, the Company is entitled to receive progress payments as costs are incurred or milestone payments as work is performed. The U.S. Government has a security interest in the Unbilled Contract Receivables and Inventoried Contract Costs to which progress payments have been applied, and such progress payments are reflected as a reduction of the related amounts. Milestone payments that have been received in excess of contract costs incurred and related estimated profits are reported on the Company’s balance sheet as Advance Payments and Billings in Excess of Costs Incurred.

The Company values its acquired contracts in process in connection with business acquisitions on the date of acquisition at contract value less the Company’s estimated costs to complete the contract and a reasonable profit allowance on the Company’s completion effort.

Investments in and Loans to Nonconsolidated Affiliates

Investments in and Loans to Nonconsolidated Affiliates: The Company’s investments in nonconsolidated affiliates are primarily accounted for using the equity method of accounting and are carried at cost, plus or minus the Company’s share of net earnings or losses of the investment, subject to certain other adjustments. The cost of equity method investments includes transaction costs of the acquisition. As required by U.S. GAAP, to the extent that there is a basis difference between the cost and the underlying equity in the net assets of an equity investment, the Company allocates such differences between tangible and intangible assets. The Company’s share of net earnings or losses of the investment, inclusive of amortization expense for any basis difference associated with the investment, are presented in interest and other income, net, on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Dividends received from the investee reduce the carrying amount of the investment. Due to the timing of receiving financial information from its nonconsolidated affiliates, the Company may record its share of net earnings or losses of such affiliates on a three-month lag basis.

Research and Development

Research and Development: Independent research and development (IRAD) costs sponsored by the Company and bid and proposal (B&P) costs relate to both U.S. Government contracts and those for international and commercial customers. The IRAD and B&P costs for certain of the Company’s businesses that are U.S. Government contractors are recoverable indirect contract costs that are allocated to U.S. Government contracts in accordance with U.S. Government procurement regulations, and are specifically excluded from research and development accounting standards. The Company includes the recoverable IRAD and B&P costs allocated to U.S. Government contracts in inventoried contract costs, and charges them to general and administrative expenses when the related contract sales are recognized as revenue. Research and development costs that are not recoverable on U.S. Government contracts are accounted for in accordance with research and development accounting standards and are expensed to general and administrative expenses as incurred. The total research and development expenses incurred were $326 million, $287 million and $258 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Customer-funded research and development costs are incurred pursuant to contracts (revenue arrangements) to perform research and development activities according to customer specifications. These direct contract costs and are charged to cost of sales when the corresponding revenue is recognized, which is generally as the research and development services are performed. Customer-funded research and development costs are substantially all incurred under cost-plus type contracts with the U.S. Government.

Contract Costs

Contract Costs: The Company capitalizes the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with foreign governments and foreign and domestic commercial customers (third-party sales commissions) if the Company expects to recover the costs under the contract. The Company expenses the costs to obtain a contract as incurred when the expected amortization period is one year or less. The Company classifies the portion of capitalized costs of obtaining a contract to be amortized over the next 12 months within prepaid expense and other current assets and classifies the remaining amount within other assets in its consolidated balance sheets.

Product Warranties

Product Warranties: Product warranty costs are accrued when revenue is recognized for the covered products. Product warranty expense is recognized based on the terms of the product warranty and the related estimated costs. Accrued warranty costs are reduced as product warranty costs are incurred or as warranty periods expire.

Deferred Debt Issue Costs

Deferred Debt Issue Costs: Costs to issue debt are capitalized and deferred when incurred, and subsequently amortized to interest expense over the term of the related debt using the effective interest rate method. Deferred debt issuance costs, other than for line-of-credit arrangements, are presented in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the associated debt liability. Deferred debt issue costs for line-of-credit arrangements are presented in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets in other assets.

Pension Plan and Postretirement Benefit Plan Obligations

Pension Plan and Postretirement Benefit Plan Obligations: The Company maintains multiple pension plans, both contributory and non-contributory, covering employees at certain locations. Eligibility for participation in these plans varies and benefits are generally based on the participant’s compensation and/or years of service. The Company’s funding policy is generally to contribute in accordance with cost accounting standards that affect government contractors, subject to the Internal Revenue Code and regulations thereon.

The Company also provides postretirement medical and life insurance benefits for retired employees and dependents at certain locations. Participants are eligible for these benefits when they retire from active service and meet the eligibility requirements for the Company’s pension plans. These benefits are funded primarily on a pay-as-you-go basis with the retiree generally paying a portion of the cost through contributions, deductibles and coinsurance provisions.

In accordance with accounting standards for employee pension and postretirement benefits, the Company recognizes on a plan-by-plan basis the unfunded status of its pension and postretirement benefit plans in the consolidated financial statements and measures its pension and postretirement benefit plan assets and benefit obligations at December 31.

The obligation for the Company’s pension plans and postretirement benefit plans and the related annual costs of employee benefits are calculated based on several long-term assumptions, including discount rates and expected mortality for employee benefit liabilities, and rates of return on plan assets, and expected annual rates for salary increases for employee participants in the case of pension plans, and expected annual increases in the costs of medical and other health care benefits in the case of postretirement benefit obligations. See Note 20, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits for additional information.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation: The Company follows the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation, which requires the Company to expense all stock-based employee compensation. Stock-based employee compensation is primarily a non-cash expense because the Company settles these obligations by issuing shares of L3 common stock instead of settling such obligations with cash payments.

Compensation expense for restricted stock unit and stock option awards is generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award based on the grant date fair value. All of the stock options granted to employees by the Company are non-qualified stock options under U.S. income tax regulations. Compensation expense for performance units payable in L3 common stock is based on the fair value of the units at the grant date (measurement date), adjusted each reporting period for progress towards the target award, and recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized net of estimated forfeitures.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes: The Company provides for income taxes using the liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities reflect tax carryforwards and the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and income tax purposes, as determined under enacted tax laws and rates. The effect of changes in tax laws or rates is accounted for in the period of enactment. Valuation allowances for deferred tax assets are provided when it is more likely than not that the assets will not be realized, considering, when appropriate, tax planning strategies. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are classified as noncurrent in the Company’s balance sheet.

Income tax accounting standards prescribe: (1) a minimum recognition threshold that an income tax benefit arising from an uncertain income tax position taken, or expected to be taken, on an income tax return is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements and (2) the measurement of the income tax benefits recognized from such positions. The Company’s accounting policy is to classify uncertain income tax positions that are not expected to be resolved in one year as non-current income tax liabilities and to classify potential interest and penalties on uncertain income tax positions as elements of the provision for income taxes in its financial statements.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase.

Inventories

Inventories: Inventories, other than Inventoried Contract Costs, are stated at cost (first-in, first-out or average cost), but not in excess of realizable value. A provision for excess, obsolete or inactive inventory is recorded based upon an analysis that considers current inventory levels, historical usage patterns and future sales expectations.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment: Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed by generally applying the straight-line method to the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Useful lives generally range from 10 to 40 years for buildings and improvements and three to 10 years for machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the improvements. When property, plant or equipment is retired or otherwise disposed of, the net book value of the asset is removed from the Company’s balance sheet and the net gain or loss is included in the determination of operating income. Property, plant and equipment acquired as part of a business acquisition is recorded at fair value.

Goodwill and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets: The carrying value of goodwill and indefinite-lived identifiable intangible assets are not amortized, but are tested for impairment annually as of November 30 and, additionally on an interim basis, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable. The accounting standards for goodwill allow for the assessment of qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. The Company utilized a qualitative assessment approach for the November 30, 2018 goodwill impairment test for all of its identified reporting units. For each of the reporting units, the Company determined that it was not more likely than not that the fair values were less than their net book values. If the Company does not utilize a qualitative assessment approach, then the quantitative goodwill impairment test is utilized to identify potential impairments. The Company identifies any potential impairment by comparing the carrying value of a reporting unit to its fair value. The Company determines the fair value of its reporting units using a discounted cash flow valuation approach. If a potential impairment is identified, the Company will determine the amount of goodwill impairment by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. To the extent the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, a goodwill impairment charge is recognized. The annual impairment tests at November 30, 2018 and 2017 did not result in impairments to goodwill.

Identifiable Intangible Assets

Identifiable Intangible Assets: Identifiable intangible assets represent assets acquired as part of the Company’s business acquisitions and include customer contractual relationships, technology, in-process research and development (IPR&D), favorable leasehold interests and trade names. The initial measurement of these intangible assets is based on their fair values. Identifiable intangible assets are: (1) tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable and (2) amortized over their estimated useful lives as the economic benefits are consumed. The Company reviews and updates its estimates of the duration of its customer contractual relationships. If the Company’s current estimates indicate that the duration of its customer contractual relationships have decreased, then the Company adjusts the remaining amortization period for those customer contractual relationships to their remaining useful economic life.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments: The Company’s derivative financial instruments include foreign currency forward contracts, which are entered into for risk management purposes.

The Company’s U.S. and foreign businesses enter into contracts with customers, subcontractors or vendors that are denominated in currencies other than their functional currencies. To protect the functional currency equivalent cash flows associated with certain of these contracts, the Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts. The Company’s activities involving foreign currency forward contracts are designed to hedge the changes in the functional currency equivalent cash flows due to movements in foreign exchange rates compared to the functional currency. The foreign currencies hedged are primarily the U.S. dollar, the Canadian dollar, the Euro, the United Arab Emirates dirham and the British pound. The Company manages exposure to counterparty non-performance credit risk by entering into foreign currency forward contracts only with major financial institutions that are expected to fully perform under the terms of such contracts. Foreign currency forward contracts are recorded in the Company’s balance sheets at fair value and are generally designated and accounted for as cash flow hedges in accordance with the accounting standards for derivative instruments and hedging activities. Gains and losses on designated foreign currency forward contracts that are highly effective in offsetting the corresponding change in the cash flows of the hedged transactions are recorded net of income taxes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (accumulated OCI) and then recognized in income when the underlying hedged transaction affects income. Gains and losses on foreign currency forward contracts that do not meet hedge accounting criteria are recognized in income immediately.

Treasury Stock

Treasury Stock: The Company records treasury stock purchases at cost, which includes incremental direct transaction costs.

Translation of Foreign Currency and Foreign Currency Transactions

Translation of Foreign Currency and Foreign Currency Transactions: Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into the local (functional) currency of the respective business at the approximate prevailing rate at the time of the transaction. Foreign exchange transaction gains and losses in the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 were not material to the Company’s results of operations. The operations of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated from the local (functional) currencies into U.S. dollars using weighted average rates of exchange during each reporting period. The rates of exchange at each balance sheet date are used for translating the assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. Gains or losses resulting from these translation adjustments are included in the balance sheets as a component of accumulated OCI and are only recognized in income when a foreign subsidiary is divested.

New Accounting Pronouncements Implemented and Not Yet Implemented

Accounting Standards Issued and Not Yet Implemented: In February 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The amendments in this update allow a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (U.S. Tax Reform). The new standard is effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt ASU 2018-02 effective January 1, 2019. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The amendments in this update intend to better align the Company's risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedge relationships and the presentation of hedge results. The amendments in this update require the Company to present the earnings effect of the hedging instrument in the same income statement line in which the earnings effect of the hedged item is reported. Current U.S. GAAP provides for hedge accounting only for the portion of the hedge deemed to be highly effective and requires the Company to separately reflect the amount by which the hedging instrument does not offset the hedged item, which is referred to as the ineffective amount. The amendments in this update no longer require the Company to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness. The new standard is effective for the Company for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. For cash flow hedges existing at the date of adoption, the Company is required to apply a cumulative effect adjustment relating to the separate measurement of ineffectiveness to the opening balance of retained earnings. The amended presentation and disclosure guidance is required only prospectively. The Company will adopt ASU 2017-12 effective January 1, 2019. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which updates the existing guidance on accounting for leases and requires new qualitative and quantitative disclosures about the Company’s leasing activities. The new standard requires the Company to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases under which the Company is the lessee, including those classified as operating leases under previous accounting guidance. The Company will measure leases commencing after the adoption date based on the present value of the lease payments due over the lease term (as defined in ASU 2016-02). The Company will measure and recognize its existing leases on the date of adoption based on the present value of the remaining minimum lease payments, as defined in existing guidance on accounting for leases. The new standard, as amended, will be effective for the Company for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected to use a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or were entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available, and will recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings at January 1, 2019. The Company expects the standard to result in an increase of approximately $650 million to the Company's assets and liabilities for right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, but does not expect ASU 2016-02 to have an impact on its results of operations or cash flows. The Company does not expect the cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings at January 1, 2019 to be material. See Note 19 for additional information about the Company’s leases, including the future minimum lease payments of the Company's operating leases at December 31, 2018.

Other accounting standard updates effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 31, 2018, are not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

New Accounting Standards Implemented: Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted FASB ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. Defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit cost (net benefit cost) comprise several components that reflect different aspects of the Company’s financial arrangements as well as the cost of benefits provided to employees. Under previous U.S. GAAP, those components were aggregated for reporting in the financial statements and presented within the operating section of the income statement or capitalized into assets (inventories) when appropriate. The amendments in this update require the Company to report the service cost component in the same line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the employees during the period. The other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented separately from the service cost component and below income from operations. Plan administrative expenses, which were previously included in service cost, are presented together with expected return on plan assets, as a component of Interest and other income, net. The amendments in this update also allow only the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization when applicable. The amendments in this update have been applied retrospectively for the presentation of the components of net benefit cost and prospectively for the capitalization of the service cost component of net benefit cost. The adoption of this standard decreased operating income and increased interest and other income, net, by $11 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 and increased operating income and decreased interest and other income, net, each by $11 million and $1 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The adoption of this standard did not impact pre-tax income for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which provides additional guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The amendments in this update provide new guidance to determine when an integrated set of assets and activities (collectively referred to as a ‘‘set’’) is not a business. The new guidance requires that, when substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired (or disposed of) is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets, the set is not a business. The new guidance reduces the number of transactions that need to be evaluated as a business. The Company adopted this amendment as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2017-01 did not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 (ASC 606), which replaces numerous requirements in U.S. GAAP, including industry-specific requirements, and provides companies with a single revenue recognition model for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers and significantly expanded the disclosure requirements for revenue arrangements. The new standard, as amended, was effective for the Company for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on January 1, 2018.

The Company adopted ASC 606 using the modified retrospective transition method. Results for reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2017 are presented under ASC 606, while prior period comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported in accordance with ASC 605, the accounting standard in effect for periods ending prior to January 1, 2018. Based on contracts in process at December 31, 2017, the Company recorded, upon adoption of ASC 606, a net increase to retained earnings of $13 million, which includes the acceleration of net sales of approximately $380 million and the related cost of sales. The adjustment to retained earnings primarily relates to contracts previously accounted for under the units-of-delivery method, which is recognized under ASC 606 earlier in the performance period as costs are incurred, as opposed to when the units are delivered under ASC 605. In accordance with the modified retrospective transition provisions of ASC 606, the Company will not recognize any of the accelerated net sales and related cost of sales at January 1, 2018 in the Company’s statements of operations for any historical or future period.

The Company made certain presentation changes to its consolidated balance sheet on January 1, 2018 to comply with ASC 606. The components of contracts in process as reported under ASC 605, which included unbilled contract receivables and inventoried contract costs, have been reclassified as contract assets and inventories, respectively, after certain adjustments to comply with ASC 606 presentation requirements. Specifically, the adoption of ASC 606 resulted in an increase in unbilled contract receivables (referred to as contract assets under ASC 606) primarily from converting contracts previously applying the units-of-delivery method to the cost-to-cost method with a corresponding reduction in inventoried contract costs. The remainder of inventoried contract costs, primarily related to work in process not controlled by the Company's customers, were reclassified to inventories. Additionally, under ASC 606, the Company capitalizes costs to fulfill a contract (i.e., non-recurring costs for contract-related activities that do not transfer a good or service to the customer) and costs to obtain a contract (i.e., commissions paid to third-party agents or representatives) to prepaid expense and other current assets or other assets (non-current). The Company amortizes costs to obtain a contract and costs to fulfill a contract in a pattern similar to the recognition of sales on the contracts that the capitalized costs relate to. The Company previously accounted for costs to fulfill a contract either as inventoried contract costs or expensed them as incurred. Costs to obtain a contract were generally expensed as incurred. Advance payments and billings in excess of costs and deferred revenue, previously classified in other current liabilities, have been combined and are presented as contract liabilities.