NOTE 2.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The information herein reflects all normal recurring material adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair statements of the results for the periods presented. The consolidated financial statements herein consist of all wholly-owned domestic and foreign subsidiaries with all significant intercompany transactions eliminated.

These consolidated financial statements present the financial position, results of comprehensive income, cash flows and statements of equity. Certain immaterial reclassifications have been made in the consolidated financial statements of prior periods to conform to the current period presentation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses. Estimates include, but are not limited to, allowance for doubtful accounts, sales allowances, government price adjustments, fair market values and future cash flows associated with goodwill, indefinite-life intangibles, long-lived asset impairment tests, useful lives for depreciation and amortization, warranty liabilities, environmental liabilities, determination of discount and other assumptions for pension and other postretirement benefit expense, income taxes and deferred tax valuation allowances, derivative valuation, and contingencies. The Company’s accounting policies involve the application of judgments and assumptions made by management that include inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Changes in estimates are recorded in results of operations in the period that the events or circumstances giving rise to such changes occur.

Segment Reporting

In accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) authoritative accounting guidance on segment reporting, the Company has one operating segment and reportable segment. The Company is in one line of business, which is the manufacture and distribution of fully-automatic transmissions.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents are defined as short-term, highly-liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less. Under the Company’s cash management system, checks issued but not presented to banks may result in book overdraft balances for accounting purposes and are classified within Accounts payable in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The change in book overdrafts is reported as a component of operating cash flows for Accounts payable.

Marketable Securities

The Company determines the appropriate classification of all marketable securities as “held-to-maturity,” “available-for-sale” or “trading” at the time of purchase, and re-evaluates such classifications as of each balance sheet date. As of December 31, 2016, the Company’s marketable securities are classified as either available-for-sale or trading.

Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value with the unrealized gain or loss reported in Accumulated other comprehensive loss (“AOCL”). Unrealized gains or losses considered to be “other-than-temporary” are recognized in income. Trading securities are carried at fair value with the unrealized gain or loss recognized in Other income (expense), net. The fair value of the Company’s investment securities is determined by currently available market prices. See NOTE 6 “Fair Value of Financial Instruments” for more details.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The Company determines cost using the first-in, first-out method. The Company analyzes inventory on a quarterly basis to determine whether it is excess or obsolete inventory. Any decline in carrying value of estimated excess or obsolete inventory is recorded as a reduction of inventory and as an expense included in Cost of sales in the period it is identified.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation expense is recorded using the straight-line method over the following estimated lives:


		Range in Years
Land improvements		5 – 30
Buildings and building improvements		10 – 40
Machinery and equipment		2 – 20
Software		2 – 5
Special tools		2 – 10

Software represents the costs of software developed or obtained for internal use. Software costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Software assets are reviewed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable over the remaining lives of the assets. Upgrades and enhancements are capitalized if they result in added functionality, which enables the software to perform tasks it was previously incapable of performing. Software maintenance, training, data conversion and business process reengineering costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.

Special tooling represents the costs to design and develop tools, dies, jigs and other items owned by the Company and used in the manufacture of components by suppliers under long-term supply agreements. Special tooling is depreciated over the tool’s expected life. Special tooling used in the development of new technology is expensed as incurred. Engineering, testing and other costs incurred in the design and development of production parts are expensed as incurred.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The carrying value of long-lived assets is evaluated whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Events or circumstances that would result in an impairment review primarily include a significant change in the use of an asset, or the planned sale or disposal of an asset. The asset would be considered impaired when there is no future use planned for the asset or the future net undiscounted cash flows generated by the asset or asset group are less than its carrying value. An impairment loss would be recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds fair value.

Assumptions and estimates used to determine cash flows in the evaluation of impairment and the fair values used to determine the impairment are subject to a degree of judgment and complexity. Any changes to the assumptions and estimates resulting from changes in actual results or market conditions from those anticipated may affect the carrying value of long-lived assets and could result in an impairment charge.

As a result of events and circumstances in the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company reviewed certain of its long-lived assets related to the production of the H3000 and H4000 hybrid-propulsion systems, resulting in a $15.4 million loss recorded for the year ended December 31, 2014. The loss, determined by using future net discounted cash flows, included approximately $1.7 million of accrued expenses related to the impairment of the long-lived assets. The Company also recorded a $1.3 million impairment loss during the first quarter of 2015. Deteriorating market conditions for hybrid-propulsion vehicles, principally as a result of decreased fuel costs, alternative fuels and other technologies, significantly contributed to the future cash flows of the related assets being less than the carrying value of those assets. There were no impairment charges for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price paid over the fair value of net assets acquired. In accordance with the FASB’s authoritative accounting guidance on goodwill, the Company does not amortize goodwill but rather evaluates it for impairment on an annual basis, or more often if events or circumstances change that could cause goodwill to become impaired. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is the same as the Company’s one operating and reportable segment. The Company has elected to perform its annual goodwill impairment test on October 31 of every year using a multi-step impairment test. In Step 0, the Company has the option to evaluate various qualitative factors to determine the likelihood of impairment. If determined that the fair value is more likely than not less than the carrying value, then the Company is required to perform Step 1. If the Company does not elect to perform Step 0, it can voluntarily proceed directly to Step 1. In Step 1, the Company performs a quantitative analysis to compare the fair value of its reporting unit to its carrying value including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to that unit, goodwill is not considered impaired, and the Company is not required to perform further testing. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, then the Company must perform Step 2 of the impairment test in order to determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, then the Company would record an impairment loss equal to the difference.

Goodwill impairment testing for 2016 was performed using the Step 1 quantitative analysis. The fair value was determined utilizing a discounted cash flow model which includes key assumptions, such as net sales growth derived from market information, industry reports, marketing programs and certain growth initiatives; operating margin improvements derived from cost reduction programs and fixed cost leverage driven by higher sales volumes; and a risk-adjusted discount rate. Events or circumstances that could unfavorably impact the key assumptions include lower net sales driven by market conditions, our inability to execute on marketing programs and/or growth initiatives, lower gross margins as a result of market conditions or failure to obtain forecasted cost reductions, or a higher discount rate as a result of market conditions. While unpredictable and inherently uncertain, the Company believes the forecast estimates were reasonable and incorporate assumptions that similar market participants would use in their estimates of fair value. Refer to NOTE 5 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” for further information.

Other intangible assets have both indefinite and finite useful lives. Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized but are tested annually for impairment. The Company has elected to perform its annual trade name impairment test on October 31 of every year and follow a similar multi-step impairment test that is performed on goodwill. Using the relief-from-royalty method under the income valuation approach, the Company performed its 2016 annual trade name impairment test using the Step 1 quantitative analysis, and determined that the fair value of the trade name exceeded its carrying value, indicating no impairment. The relief-from-royalty method requires assumptions be made concerning forecasted revenue, a discount rate, and a royalty rate. The underlying concept of the relief-from-royalty method is that the value of the trade name can be estimated by determining the cost savings the Company achieves by not having to license the trade name. Events or circumstances that could unfavorably impact the key assumptions include lower net sales driven by market conditions, the Company’s inability to execute on marketing programs and/or growth initiatives, and higher discount rate as a result of market conditions. While unpredictable and inherently uncertain, the Company believes the forecast estimates were reasonable and incorporate those assumptions that similar market participants would use in their estimates of fair value. Refer to NOTE 5 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” for further information.

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives and reviewed for impairment when circumstances change that would create a triggering event. Customer relationships are amortized over the life in which expected benefits are to be consumed. The other remaining finite life intangibles are amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful lives. The Company evaluates the remaining useful life of the other intangible assets on a periodic basis to determine whether events or circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining useful life. Assumptions and estimates about future values and remaining useful lives of the Company’s intangible and other long-lived assets are complex and subjective. They can be affected by a variety of factors, including external factors such as industry and economic trends, and internal factors, such as changes in the Company’s business strategy and internal forecasts. Although management believes the historical assumptions and estimates are reasonable and appropriate, different assumptions and estimates could materially impact the Company’s reported financial results.

NOTE 5 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” provides further information.

Deferred Financing Costs

The debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements is presented as a component of other non-current assets. Deferred financing costs continue to be amortized over the life of the related debt using the effective interest method. Amortization of deferred financing costs is recorded as part of interest expense and totaled $6.8 million, $8.0 million and $8.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Financial Instruments

The Company’s cash equivalents are invested in U.S. Government backed securities and recorded at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The carrying values of accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. The Company’s financial derivative instruments, including interest rate swaps and foreign currency and commodity forward contracts are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Refer to NOTE 6 “Fair Value of Financial Instruments” for more detail. The Company’s long-term debt obligations are carried at historical amounts with the Company providing fair value disclosure in NOTE 7 “Debt”.

Insurable Liabilities

The Company records liabilities for its medical, workers’ compensation, long-term disability, product, general and auto liabilities. The determination of these liabilities and related expenses is dependent on claims experience. For most of these liabilities, claims incurred but not yet reported are estimated based upon historical claims experience.

Revenue Recognition

The Company records sales when title has transferred to the customer, there is evidence of an agreement, the sales price is fixed or determinable, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, and collectability is reasonably assured. The Company sells Extended Transmission Coverage (“ETC”) for which sales are deferred. ETC sales are recognized ratably over the period of the ETC, which typically ranges from two to five years after initial sale. Costs associated with ETC programs are recorded as incurred during the extended period. Distributor and customer sales incentives, consisting of allowances and other rebates, are estimated at the time of sale based upon the Company’s history and experience and are recorded as a reduction to Net sales. Incentive programs are generally product specific or region specific. Some factors used in estimating the cost of incentives include the number of transmissions that will be affected by the incentive program and rate of acceptance of any incentive program. If the actual number of affected transmissions differs from this estimate, or if a different mix of incentives is actually paid, the impact on Net sales would be recorded in the period that the change was identified. Consideration given to commercial customers recorded as a reduction of Net sales in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income included $58.1 million, $46.7 million, and $66.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Sales under U.S. government production contracts are recorded when the product is accepted, title has transferred to the U.S. government, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and delivery has occurred. Deferred revenue arises from cash received in advance of the culmination of the earnings process and is recognized as revenue in future periods when the applicable revenue recognition criteria have been met. Under the terms of previous U.S. government contracts, there were certain price reduction clauses and provisions for potential price reductions which were estimated at the time of sale based upon the Company’s history and experience and were recorded as a reduction to Net sales. Potential reductions may be attributed to a change in projected sales volumes or plant efficiencies which impact overall costs. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had $55.6 million and $55.1 million recorded in the price reduction reserve account, respectively.

Due to requests from the U.S. government, the Company billed, but did not ship certain tracked transmissions during 2013. Based on the lack of a fixed delivery date from the U.S. government, the Company deferred approximately $8.8 million of Net sales for these transmissions until they were shipped in 2014. See NOTE 10 “Deferred Revenue” for additional details.

The Company classifies shipping and handling billed to customers in Net sales and shipping and handling costs in Cost of sales, in accordance with authoritative accounting guidance.

The Company contracts with various third parties to provide engineering services. These services are recorded as Net sales in accordance with the terms of the contract. The saleable engineering recorded was $2.5 million, $4.2 million and $7.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The associated costs are recorded in Cost of sales.

Warranty

Provisions for estimated expenses related to product warranties are made at the time products are sold. Warranty claims arise when a transmission fails while in service during the relevant warranty period. The warranty reserve is adjusted in Selling, general and administrative based on the Company’s current and historical warranty claims paid and associated repair costs. These estimates are established using historical information including the nature, frequency, and average cost of warranty claims and are adjusted as actual information becomes available. From time to time, the Company may initiate a specific field action program. As a result of the uncertainty surrounding the nature and frequency of specific field action programs, the liability for such programs is recorded when the Company commits to an action. The Company reviews and assesses the liability for these programs on a quarterly basis. The Company also assesses its ability to recover certain costs from its suppliers and records a receivable from the supplier when it believes a recovery is probable. Warranty costs may differ from those estimated if actual claim rates are higher or lower than our historical rates.

Research and Development

The Company incurs costs in connection with research and development programs that are expected to contribute to future earnings. Such costs are charged to Engineering — research and development as incurred.

Environmental

The Company accrues costs related to environmental matters when it is probable that the Company has incurred a liability related to a contaminated site and the costs can be reasonably estimated. For additional information, see NOTE 17 “Commitments and Contingencies”.

Foreign Currency Translation

Most of the subsidiaries outside the United States prepare financial statements in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar. The functional currency for all these subsidiaries is the local currency, except for the Company’s Hong Kong and Middle East subsidiaries which currently use the U.S. Dollar as their functional currency. Balances are translated at period-end exchange rates for assets and liabilities and monthly weighted-average exchange rates for revenues and expenses. The translation gains and losses are stated as a component of AOCL as disclosed in NOTE 16 “Other Comprehensive Loss”.

Derivative Instruments

In the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to fluctuations in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and commodity prices. The risk is managed through the use of financial derivative instruments including interest rate swaps and commodity and foreign currency forward contracts. Despite the fact that the Company either has not elected or does not qualify for hedge accounting treatment on all of its derivative instruments, the contracts are used strictly as an economic hedge and not for speculative purposes. As necessary, the Company adjusts the values of the derivative instruments for counter-party or credit risk. NOTE 8 “Derivatives” provides further information on the accounting treatment of the Company’s derivative instruments.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. The future tax benefits associated with operating loss and tax credit carryforwards are recognized as deferred tax assets. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

The need to establish a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets is assessed periodically based on a more-likely-than-not realization threshold, in accordance with the FASB’s authoritative accounting guidance on income taxes. Appropriate consideration is given to all positive and negative evidence related to that realization. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of recent losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, and experience with tax attributes expiring unused and tax planning alternatives. The weight given to these considerations depends upon the degree to which they can be objectively verified.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company maintains a stock-based compensation plan which allows employees (including executive officers), consultants and directors to receive equity awards. The Company follows the FASB’s authoritative accounting guidance on share-based payments and recognizes the fair value of the awards as compensation expense over the vesting period. The accounting guidance also requires that forfeitures be estimated over the vesting period of an award instead of being recognized as a reduction of compensation expense when the forfeiture actually occurs.

Pension and Post-retirement Benefit Plans

For pension and other post-retirement benefits (“OPEB”) plans in which employees participate, costs are determined within the FASB’s authoritative accounting guidance set forth in employers’ defined benefit pensions including accounting for settlements and curtailments of defined benefit pension plans, termination of benefits and accounting for post-retirement benefits other than pensions. In accordance with the authoritative accounting guidance, the Company recognizes the funded status of its defined benefit pension plans and OPEB plan in its Consolidated Balance Sheets with a corresponding adjustment to AOCL, net of tax.

Post-retirement benefit costs consist of service cost and interest cost on accrued obligations. Actuarial gains and losses on liabilities together with any prior service costs are charged (or credited) to income over the average remaining service lives of employees.

The benefit cost components shown in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income are based upon various actuarial assumptions and methodologies as prescribed by authoritative accounting guidance. These assumptions include discount rates, expected return on plan assets, health care cost trend rates, inflation, rate of compensation increases, population demographics, mortality rates and other factors. The Company reviews all actuarial assumptions on an annual basis. Changes in key economic indicators can change these assumptions. These assumptions, along with the actual value of assets at the measurement date, will impact the calculation of pension expenses for the year.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2017, the FASB issued authoritative accounting guidance on evaluation of goodwill for impairment. The guidance modifies the approach to assessing impairment from testing the implied fair value goodwill to testing the fair value of the reporting unit carrying the goodwill, which eliminates Step 2 of the current evaluation guidance. The intent of this amendment is to reduce the cost and complexity of evaluating goodwill. The guidance will be effective for the Company in fiscal year 2020, but early adoption is permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued authoritative accounting guidance on the income tax consequences of intra-company transfers other than inventory. This guidance addresses the timing of the recognition of current and deferred income taxes. Under this guidance, the recognition of current or deferred income taxes will occur at the time of the transfer of the asset. The guidance will be effective for the Company in fiscal year 2018, but early adoption is permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued authoritative accounting guidance on the presentation and classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statement of cash flows. The guidance specifically addresses cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the diversity in practice. The guidance will be effective for the Company in fiscal year 2018, but early adoption is permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued authoritative accounting guidance on share-based payment awards to employees. The guidance involves several aspects of the accounting for 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. The guidance was adopted by the Company effective in fiscal year 2017. Commencing on that date, management will record any excess tax benefit or tax deficiency in income tax expense and as a component of operating cash flows and will make the accounting policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur.

In February 2016, the FASB issued authoritative accounting guidance on lease accounting. The guidance requires lessees to present right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases not considered short-term leases. Short-term leases are leases with a lease term of 12 months or less as long as the leases do not include options to purchase the underlying assets that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise. The new guidance also introduces new disclosure requirements for leasing arrangements. The guidance will be effective for the Company in fiscal year 2019, but early adoption is permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued authoritative accounting guidance on the classification of equity securities with readily determinable fair values into different categories (e.g. trading or available-for-sale) and the requirement for equity securities to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The guidance will be effective prospectively for the Company in fiscal year 2018 and early adoption is limited to certain provisions. Upon adoption, a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings in the consolidated balance sheets will be reclassified to beginning retained earnings. Management expects the unrealized gains and losses for fair value measurement of the Company’s available-for-sale securities to be recognized in net income upon adoption.

In July 2015, the FASB issued authoritative accounting guidance to simplify the measurement of inventory. The guidance requires that inventory be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. When evidence exists that the net realizable value of inventory is lower than its cost, the difference shall be recognized as a loss in earnings in the period in which it occurs. Inventory measured using last-in, first-out and the retail inventory method are not impacted by the new guidance. The guidance was adopted by the Company effective in fiscal year 2017. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued authoritative accounting guidance on a company’s accounting for revenue from contracts with customers, which guidance has subsequently been amended. The guidance applies to all companies that enter into contracts with customers to transfer goods, services or nonfinancial assets. The guidance requires these companies to recognize 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 guidance also requires disclosures regarding the nature, timing, amount and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. The guidance allows either full or modified retrospective adoption. The guidance will be effective for the Company for the annual and interim periods beginning in fiscal year 2018, and the Company will not early adopt. Management has determined that the revenue streams that could be impacted by the guidance relate to non-standard transmission coverages. Certain contracts are also being reviewed individually for potential impact. The adoption method has not yet been determined.