Accounting Changes (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Accounting Pronouncement Recently Adopted

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted

On January 1, 2017, we adopted new accounting guidance related to the accounting for stock compensation. The guidance primarily simplifies the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including a new requirement to record all of the income tax effects at settlement or expiration through the income statement, classifications of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. We adopted this new accounting guidance on a modified retrospective basis and recorded a previously disallowed deferred tax asset of $9 million with a corresponding increase to cumulative effect of change in accounting within retained earnings at adoption.

On January 1, 2017, we adopted new accounting guidance related to transition to the equity method of accounting. The guidance eliminates the retrospective application of the equity method of accounting when obtaining significant influence over a previously held investment. The guidance requires that an entity that has an available-for-sale equity security that becomes qualified for the equity method of accounting recognize through earnings the unrealized holding gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income at the date the investment becomes qualified for use of the equity method. We did not have any significant impact from this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

On January 1, 2017, we adopted new accounting guidance related to the assessment of contingent put and call options in debt instruments. The guidance clarifies the requirements for assessing whether contingent call (put) options that can accelerate the payment of principal on debt instruments are clearly and closely related to their debt hosts. An entity performing the assessment under the amendments in this update is required to assess the embedded call (put) options solely in accordance with the four-step decision sequence. This guidance is consistent with our previous accounting practices and, accordingly, did not have any impact on our consolidated financial statements.

On January 1, 2017, we adopted new accounting guidance related to the effect of derivative contract novations on existing hedge accounting relationships. The guidance clarifies that a change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as the hedging instrument does not, in and of itself, require dedesignation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met. This guidance is consistent with our previous accounting for derivative contract novations and, accordingly, did not have any impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In August 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“the FASB”) issued new guidance intended to enable entities to better portray the economics of their derivative risk management activities in the financial statements and enhance the transparency and understandability of hedge results. In certain situations, the amendments also simplify the application of hedge accounting. The guidance is currently effective for us on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We are in process of evaluating adopting this new guidance early and the impact it may have on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued new guidance to clarify when to account for a change to share-based compensation as a modification. The new guidance requires modification accounting only if there are changes to the fair value, vesting conditions or classification, as a liability or equity, of the share-based compensation. The guidance is effective, prospectively, for us on January 1, 2018, accordingly, the guidance will not have any impact at adoption.

In March 2017, the FASB issued new guidance shortening the amortization period for the premium component of callable debt securities purchased at a premium. The guidance requires the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. This change does not apply to securities held at a discount. The guidance is currently effective for us on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We are in process of evaluating the impact the guidance may have on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2017, the FASB issued new guidance to clarify the accounting for gains and losses from the derecognition of nonfinancial assets and accounting for partial sales of nonfinancial assets. The new guidance clarifies when transferring ownership interests in a consolidated subsidiary holding nonfinancial assets is within scope. It also states that the reporting entity should identify each distinct nonfinancial asset and derecognize when a counterparty obtains control, and clarifies the accounting for partial sales. The new guidance is currently effective for us on January 1, 2018. We do not expect any significant impacts from this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance simplifying the test for goodwill impairment. The new guidance states goodwill impairment is equal to the difference between the carrying value and fair value of the reporting unit up to the amount of recorded goodwill. The new guidance is currently effective for us on January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted for testing dates after January 1, 2017. We do not expect any significant impacts from this new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to the income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The new guidance states that an entity should recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. The guidance is currently effective for us on January 1, 2018. We are still in process of evaluating the impact the guidance may have on our consolidated financial statements, including any cumulative effect adjustment that will be recorded directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption.

In January 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance related to the recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities. Changes to the current financial instruments accounting primarily affects equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option, and the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. Under the new guidance, equity investments with readily determinable fair value, except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, will be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income (loss). As of September 30, 2017, we have approximately $45 million of cumulative unrealized gains related to equity securities included in accumulated other comprehensive income as well as approximately $25 million of gains related to limited partnership investments currently recorded at cost, that will be reclassed to cumulative effect of change in accounting within retained earnings upon adoption of this new accounting guidance. The new guidance also clarifies that the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities should be evaluated in combination with other deferred tax assets. This new guidance will be effective for us on January 1, 2018. We are still in process of evaluating the full impact the guidance may have on our consolidated financial statements.