Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include CommScope Holding Company, Inc., along with its direct and indirect subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of the Financial Statements

The preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S.) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates and their underlying assumptions form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other objective sources. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances and revises its estimates, as appropriate, when events or changes in circumstances indicate that revisions may be necessary. Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Company’s financial statements include the allowance for doubtful accounts; reserves for sales returns, discounts, allowances, rebates and distributor price protection programs; inventory excess and obsolescence reserves; contingent liabilities; tax valuation allowances; liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits; impairment reviews for investments, property, plant and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets; and pension and other postretirement benefit costs and liabilities. Although these estimates are based on management’s knowledge of and experience with past and current events and on management’s assumptions about future events, it is at least reasonably possible that they may ultimately differ materially from actual results.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents represent deposits in banks and cash invested temporarily in various instruments that are highly liquid and have a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade accounts receivable and contract assets for unbilled receivables are stated at the amount owed by the customer, net of allowances for estimated doubtful accounts, discounts, returns and rebates. The Company measures the allowance for doubtful accounts using an expected credit loss model, which uses a lifetime expected loss allowance for all trade accounts receivable and contract assets. To measure the expected credit losses, trade accounts receivable and contract assets are grouped based on shared credit risk characteristics and the days past due based on the contractual terms of the receivable. Contract assets relate to unbilled work in progress and have substantially the same risk characteristics as trade accounts receivable for the same types of contracts. Therefore, the Company has concluded that the expected loss rates for trade accounts receivable are a reasonable approximation of the loss rates for the contract assets.

In calculating an allowance for doubtful accounts, the Company uses its historical experience, external indicators and forward-looking information to calculate expected credit losses using an aging method. The Company assesses impairment of trade accounts receivable on a collective basis, as they possess shared credit risk characteristics which have been grouped based on the days past due.

The expected loss rates are based on the payment profiles of sales over the preceding thirty-six months and the corresponding historical credit losses experienced within this period. The historical loss rates are adjusted to reflect current and forward-looking information on macroeconomic factors affecting the ability of the customers to settle their trade accounts receivable. Accounts are written off against the allowance account when they are determined to be no longer collectible.

The Company sells certain of its accounts receivable under a customer-sponsored supplier financing agreement. Under this agreement, the Company is able to sell certain accounts receivable to a bank at a discount. The Company sold approximately $183 million and $339 million of trade accounts receivable under this program during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and the cost of factoring such receivables was not material. The Company derecognizes the accounts receivable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets once sold to the bank, as it retains no interest in and has no servicing responsibilities for them once they have been sold. The cash received from the bank is classified within the operating activities section in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Inventory cost is determined on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis. Costs such as idle facility expense, excessive scrap and re-handling costs are expensed as incurred. The Company maintains reserves to reduce the value of inventory to the lower of cost or net realizable value, including reserves for excess and obsolete inventory.

Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations

The Company reports the results of operations of a business as discontinued operations if a disposal represents a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on the Company's operations and financial results when the business is sold, in accordance with the criteria of ASC Topic 205-20, Presentation of Financial Statements—Discontinued Operations, and classified as held for sale, in accordance with ASC Topic 360-10, Impairment and Disposal of Long Lived Assets. The results of discontinued operations are reported in loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations for the current and prior periods and include any gain or loss recognized on classification as held for sale, or adjustment of the carrying amount or estimated fair value less cost to sell. If the carrying amount of the business exceeds its estimated fair value less cost to sell, a loss is recognized. Assets and liabilities related to a business classified as held for sale are segregated in the current and prior periods on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. If a business is classified as held for sale after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued, the business continues to be classified as held and used in those financial statements when issued or when available to be issued.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

CommScope is exposed to risks resulting from adverse fluctuations in commodity prices, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. CommScope’s risk management strategy includes the use of derivative financial instruments whenever management determines their use to be reasonable and practical. This strategy does not permit the use of derivative financial instruments for trading or speculation.

The Company periodically uses forward contracts to hedge a portion of its balance sheet foreign exchange re-measurement risk and to hedge certain planned foreign currency expenditures. Unrealized gains and losses resulting from these contracts are recognized in other income (expense), net and partially offset corresponding foreign exchange gains and losses on the balances and expenditures being hedged. These instruments are not designated as hedges for hedge accounting purposes and are marked to market each period through earnings.

The Company also utilizes a hedging strategy to mitigate the interest rate risk from its variable rate debt, initially associated with its amended senior secured term loan due 2026 (2026 Term Loan) and extending to future borrowings or debt issued, to fix a portion of the future interest cash flows by designating qualifying receive-variable and pay-fixed interest rate swaps as a cash flow hedge for accounting and financial reporting purposes. Hedge effectiveness is assessed each quarter, and for hedges that meet the effectiveness requirements, changes in fair value are recorded as a component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, and are reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the Company’s variable rate debt.

The Company has elected and documented the use of the normal purchases and sales exception for normal purchase and sales contracts that meet the definition of a derivative financial instrument. See Note 9 for further disclosure related to the derivative instruments and hedging activities.

Leases

The Company determines if a contract is a lease or contains a lease at inception. Right of use assets related to operating type leases are reported in other noncurrent assets and the present value of remaining lease obligations is reported in accrued and other liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For the periods presented, CommScope does not have any financing type leases.

Operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. The majority of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate; therefore, the Company uses the incremental borrowing rates applicable to the economic environment and the duration of the lease, based on the information available at commencement date, in determining the present value of future payments. The right of use asset for operating leases is measured using the lease liability adjusted for the impact of lease payments made prior to commencement, lease incentives received, initial direct costs incurred and any asset impairments. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the option will be exercised. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The Company remeasures and reallocates the consideration in a lease when there is a modification of the lease that is not accounted for as a separate contract. The lease liability is remeasured when there is a change in the lease term or a change in the assessment of whether the Company will exercise a lease option. The Company assesses right of use assets for impairment in accordance with its long-lived asset impairment policy.

The Company accounts for lease agreements with contractually required lease and non-lease components on a combined basis. Lease payments made for cancellable leases, variable amounts that are not based on an observable index and lease agreements with an original duration of less than twelve months are recorded directly to lease expense.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Upon application of acquisition accounting, property, plant and equipment are measured at estimated fair value as of the acquisition date to establish a new historical cost basis. Provisions for depreciation are based on estimated useful lives of the assets using the straight-line method. Useful lives generally range from 10 to 35 years for buildings and improvements and 3 to 10 years for machinery and equipment. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Assets that management intends to dispose of and that meet “held for sale” criteria are carried at the lower of the carrying value or fair value less costs to sell.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill is assigned to reporting units based on the difference between the purchase price as allocated to the reporting units and the estimated fair value of the identified net assets acquired as allocated to the reporting units. Purchased intangible assets with finite lives are carried at their estimated fair values at the time of acquisition less accumulated amortization and any impairment charges. Amortization is recognized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, which approximates the pattern that the economic benefits are realized by the Company.

Asset Impairments

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually or at other times if events have occurred or circumstances exist that indicate the carrying value of the reporting unit may exceed its fair value. Property, plant and equipment, intangible assets with finite lives and right of use assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable, based on the undiscounted cash flows expected to be derived from the use and ultimate disposition of the assets. Assets identified as impaired are adjusted to estimated fair value. Equity investments without readily determinable fair values are evaluated each reporting period for impairment based on a qualitative assessment and are then measured at fair value if an impairment is determined to exist. See Notes 4 and 10 for discussion of asset impairment charges.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue based on the satisfaction of distinct obligations to transfer goods and services to customers. The Company’s revenue is generated primarily from product or equipment sales. The Company also generates revenue from custom design and installation services as well as bundled sales arrangements that include product, software and services. The Company applies a five-step approach as defined in ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, in determining the amount and timing of revenue to be recognized: (1) identify the contract with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when a corresponding performance obligation is satisfied. Most contracts with customers are to provide distinct products or services within a single contract. However, if a contract is separated into more than one performance obligation, the total transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation in an amount based on the estimated relative standalone selling price.

Product sales to end-customers or distributors represent over 90% of the Company’s revenue and are recognized at a point-in-time, which is generally at the point in time when products have been shipped, right to payment has been obtained and risk of loss has been transferred. Certain of the Company’s product performance obligations include proprietary operating system software, which typically is not considered separately identifiable. Therefore, sales of these products and the related software are considered one performance obligation.

License contracts include revenue recognized for the licensing of intellectual property, including software, sold separately without products. Functional intellectual property licenses do not meet the criteria for revenue to be recognized over time, and revenue is most commonly recognized upon delivery of the license/software to the customer.

The Company has service arrangements where net sales are recognized over time. These arrangements include a variety of post-contract support service offerings, which are generally recognized over time as the services are provided, including the following: maintenance and support services provided under annual service-level agreements; “Day 2” professional services to help customers maximize their utilization of deployed systems; and installation services related to the routine installation of equipment ordered by the customer at the customer’s site.

Revenue is measured based on the consideration the Company expects to be entitled based on customer contracts. Sales are adjusted for variable consideration amounts, including, but not limited to, estimated discounts, rebates, distributor price protection programs and returns. These estimates are determined based upon historical experience, contract terms, inventory levels in the distributor channel and other related factors. Adjustments to variable consideration estimates are recorded when circumstances indicate revisions may be necessary. Variable consideration is primarily related to the Company’s sales to distributors, system integrators and value-added resellers.

A contract liability for deferred revenue is recorded when consideration is received or is unconditionally due from a customer prior to transferring control of goods or services to the customer under the terms of a contract. Deferred revenue balances typically result from advance payments received from customers for product contracts or from billings in excess of revenue recognized on services arrangements.

Unbilled receivables are recorded when revenues are recognized in advance of invoice issuance. These assets are presented on a combined basis with accounts receivable and are converted to accounts receivable once the Company’s right to the consideration becomes unconditional, which varies by contract but is generally based on achieving certain acceptance milestones. The Company recognizes the incremental costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset would be one year or less.

Shipping and Handling Costs

The Company includes shipping and handling costs billed to customers in net sales and includes the costs incurred to transport product to customers as well as certain internal handling costs, which relate to activities to prepare goods for shipment, as cost of sales. Shipping and handling costs incurred after control is transferred to the customer are accounted for as fulfillment costs and are not accounted for as separate revenue obligations.

Tax Collected from Customers

Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction, which are collected by the Company from customers, are excluded from net sales.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred and are reflected in selling, general and administrative expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Advertising expense was $22.9 million, $32.1 million and $28.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Research and Development

Research and development (R&D) costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. R&D costs include materials and equipment that have no alternative future use, depreciation on equipment and facilities currently used for R&D purposes, personnel costs, contract services and reasonable allocations of indirect costs, if clearly related to an R&D activity. Expenditures in the pre-production phase of an R&D project are recorded as R&D expense. However, costs incurred in the pre-production phase that are associated with output actually used in production are recorded in cost of sales. A project is considered finished with pre-production efforts when management determines that it has achieved acceptable levels of scrap and yield, which vary by project. Expenditures related to ongoing production are recorded in cost of sales.

Restructuring

The Company records restructuring charges associated with management-approved restructuring plans, which could include the elimination of job functions, closure or relocation of facilities, reorganization of operations, changes in management structure, workforce reductions or other actions. Restructuring charges may include ongoing and enhanced termination benefits related to employee separations, contract termination costs, impairment of certain assets and other related costs associated with exit or disposal activities. Severance benefits are provided to employees primarily under the Company’s ongoing benefit arrangements. These severance costs are accrued once management commits to a plan of termination and it becomes probable that employees will be separated and entitled to benefits at amounts that can be reasonably estimated. In some instances, the Company enhances its ongoing termination benefits with one-time termination benefits, which are recognized when employees are notified of their enhanced termination benefits.

Foreign Currency Translation

For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, approximately 35%, 33% and 40%, respectively, of the Company’s net sales were to customers located outside the U.S. A portion of these sales was denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, particularly sales from the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. The financial position and results of operations of certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are measured using the local currency as the functional currency. Revenues and expenses of these subsidiaries have been translated into U.S. dollars at average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries have been translated at the exchange rates as of the balance sheet date. Translation gains and losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Upon sale or liquidation of an investment in a foreign subsidiary, the amount of net translation gains or losses that have been accumulated in other comprehensive loss attributable to that investment are reported as a gain or loss in earnings in the period in which the sale or liquidation occurs.

Aggregate foreign currency gains and losses, such as those resulting from the settlement of receivables or payables, foreign currency contracts and short-term intercompany advances in a currency other than the subsidiary’s functional currency, are recorded currently in earnings (included in other income (expense), net) and resulted in losses of $13.9 million, $4.6 million and $4.1 million during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Foreign currency remeasurement gains and losses related to certain long-term intercompany loans that are not expected to be settled in the foreseeable future are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Equity-Based Compensation

The estimated fair value of stock awards is recognized as expense over the requisite service periods. Forfeitures of stock awards are recognized as they occur. The Company records deferred tax assets related to compensation expense for awards that are expected to result in future tax deductions for the Company, based on the amount of compensation cost recognized and the Company’s statutory tax rate in the jurisdiction in which it expects to receive a deduction. Differences between the deferred tax assets recognized for financial reporting purposes and actual tax deductions reported on the Company’s income tax return are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations within income tax expense benefit.

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes reflect the future tax consequences of differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities. The Company records a valuation allowance, when appropriate, to reduce deferred tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized.

Tax benefits that result from uncertain tax positions may be recognized only if they are considered more likely than not to be sustainable, based on their technical merits. The amount of benefit to be recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is at least 50% likely to be realized.

In addition, the Company does not provide for U.S. taxes related to the foreign currency remeasurement gains and losses on its long-term intercompany loans with foreign subsidiaries. These loans are not expected to be repaid in the foreseeable future, and the foreign currency gains and losses are therefore recorded to accumulated other comprehensive loss.

The Company records the income tax effects related to the activity of its defined benefit plans and hedging instruments in accumulated other comprehensive loss at the currently enacted tax rate and reclassifies it to net income (loss) in the same period that the related pre-tax accumulated comprehensive income (loss) reclassifications are recognized.

Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share (EPS) is computed by dividing net income (loss), less any dividends related to the Series A convertible preferred stock (Convertible Preferred Stock), by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The numerator in diluted EPS is based on the basic EPS numerator, adjusted to add back any dividends related to the Convertible Preferred Stock, subject to antidilution requirements. The denominator used in diluted EPS is based on the basic EPS computation plus the effect of potentially dilutive common shares related to the Convertible Preferred Stock and equity-based compensation plans, subject to antidilution requirements.

For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, 17.9 million, 11.3 million and 12.2 million shares, respectively, of outstanding equity-based compensation awards were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because either the effect was antidilutive or the performance conditions were not met. Of those amounts, for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, 1.5 million, 2.9 million and 4.9 million shares, respectively, would have been considered dilutive if the Company had not been in a net loss attributable to common stockholders position.

For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, 40.8 million, 39.1 million and 37.9 million, respectively, of as-if converted shares related to the Convertible Preferred Stock were excluded from the diluted share count because they were anti-dilutive; however, they may have been considered dilutive if the Company had not been in a net loss attributable to common stockholders position.

The following table presents the basis for the EPS computations (in millions, except per share data):

	Year ended December 31,
	2023			2022			2021
Numerator:
Loss from continuing operations	$	(851.3	)	$	(1,184.7	)	$	(350.0	)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		(599.6	)		(102.2	)		(112.6	)
Net loss	$	(1,450.9	)	$	(1,286.9	)	$	(462.6	)
Dividends on Series A convertible preferred stock		(61.8	)		(59.0	)		(57.3	)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	$	(1,512.7	)	$	(1,345.9	)	$	(519.9	)
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic		210.9			207.4			203.6
Dilutive effect of as-if converted Series A convertible preferred stock		—			—			—
Dilutive effect of equity-based awards		—			—			—
Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted		210.9			207.4			203.6
Basic:
Loss from continuing operations per share	$	(4.33	)	$	(6.00	)	$	(2.00	)
Loss from discontinued operations per share		(2.84	)		(0.49	)		(0.55	)
Loss per share	$	(7.17	)	$	(6.49	)	$	(2.55	)
Diluted
Loss from continuing operations per share	$	(4.33	)	$	(6.00	)	$	(2.00	)
Loss from discontinued operations per share		(2.84	)		(0.49	)		(0.55	)
Loss per share	$	(7.17	)	$	(6.49	)		(2.55	)

Concentrations of Risk

Non-derivative financial instruments used by the Company in the normal course of business include letters of credit and commitments to extend credit, primarily accounts receivable. The Company generally does not require collateral on its accounts receivable. These financial instruments involve risk, including the credit risk of nonperformance by the counterparties to those instruments, and the actual loss may exceed the reserves provided in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 17 for further discussion of customer-related concentrations of risk.

The Company manages its exposures to credit risk associated with accounts receivable using tools such as credit approvals, credit limits and monitoring procedures. CommScope estimates the allowance for doubtful accounts based on the actual payment history and individual circumstances of significant customers as well as the age of receivables. In management’s opinion, as of December 31, 2023, the Company did not have significant unreserved risk of credit loss due to the non-performance of customers or other counterparties related to amounts receivable. However, an adverse change in financial condition of a significant customer or group of customers or in the telecommunications industry could materially affect the Company’s estimates related to doubtful accounts.

The principal raw materials and components purchased by CommScope (aluminum, copper, steel, bimetals, optical fiber, plastics and other polymers, capacitors, memory devices and silicon chips) are subject to changes in market price as these materials are linked to various commodity markets. The Company attempts to mitigate these risks through effective requirements planning and by working closely with its key suppliers to obtain the best possible pricing and delivery terms.

The Company relies on sole suppliers or a limited group of suppliers for certain key components (memory devices, capacitors and silicon chips), subassemblies and modules and a limited group of contract manufacturers to manufacture a significant portion of its products. Any disruption or termination of these arrangements could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Adopted in 2023

On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-04, Liabilities—Supplier Finance Programs (Subtopic 405-50): Disclosure of Supplier Finance Program Obligations. The new guidance improves the transparency of supplier finance programs by requiring that a buyer in a supplier finance program disclose sufficient qualitative and quantitative information about the program to allow a user of its financial statements to understand the program’s nature, activity during the period, changes from period to period and potential effect on an entity’s financial statements. This guidance has been applied retrospectively to all periods in which a balance sheet is presented, except for the requirement to disclose rollforward information, which is effective prospectively for the Company as of January 1, 2024. The impact of adopting this new guidance was not material to the consolidated financial statements.

In June 2023, the Company adopted ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting and the related updates, ASU No. 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope and ASU No. 2022-06, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848. Together, the ASUs provide temporary optional guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. The guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The Company adopted the reference rate reform guidance in connection with its amendment of the 2026 Term Loan on June 8, 2023 to transition from the Eurodollar Rate based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) to a Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), as the reference interest rate, effective as of July 1, 2023, in anticipation of the cessation of LIBOR in 2023 (see Note 8 for further discussion). The impact of adopting this guidance was not material to the consolidated financial statements. The Company continues to evaluate and monitor developments and its assessment of this guidance during the LIBOR transition period.

Issued but Not Adopted

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The new guidance is expected to improve income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information by requiring 1) consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and 2) income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. The guidance is effective for the Company on a prospective basis, although retrospective application is permitted, as of January 1, 2025 for the annual period. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on the consolidated financial statements.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The new guidance is expected to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures for significant segment expenses. The guidance is effective for the Company on a retrospective basis as of January 1, 2024 for the annual period and January 1, 2025 for the interim periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on the consolidated financial statements.