Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A summary of significant accounting policies is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on February 21, 2020.

Other Income, Net

On March 30, 2020, Veoneer commenced arbitration against Nissin Kogyo regarding a dispute arising out of a Share Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) dated September 2015. On June 30, 2020, Veoneer agreed to settle the proceedings, along with any and all legal claims arising out of or relating to the SPA dispute, for $20 million. The cash settlement was received by the Company on June 30, 2020 and is reported among Other income, net in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Research, development and engineering

In early 2019, as a result of multiple factors, including general market conditions, numerous customer change requests, and challenges involved in developing new technologies for various customer programs, Veoneer launched a broad initiative to have its customers contribute more to the cost of developing these programs. The Company began to approach customers to negotiate or renegotiate new or existing agreements to provide for more favorable cost sharing terms. As part of this initiative, Veoneer approached a certain customer to adjust the terms of existing award agreements. On May 20, 2020, the Company entered into an adjustment agreement with such customer and received a lump sum settlement of $65 million for past research, development and engineering costs and implementation of change requests, and $11 million for software specific future development.

During the second quarter of 2020, the Company received a total of $76 million from the adjustment agreement. According to the Company’s accounting policies, research, development and most engineering expenses are expensed as incurred. These expenses are reported net of expense reimbursements from contracts to further customize existing products for specific customers.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recognized a total reimbursement from customers of $82 million for past completed engineering services as a reduction of research, development and engineering costs on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.

In addition, as of September 30, 2020, the Company recognized $15 million from the adjustment agreement as deferred income reported among Other current liabilities in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The deferred amount will be recognized in a systematic way and in proportion to the completion of the future engineering services related to the adjustment agreement as reimbursement from customers.

Accounting for credit losses

The Company has evaluated the available adoption options of common credit loss methods that are acceptable as per FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 326, Credit Losses. The Company adopted the available Loss-rate method where the impairment is calculated using an estimated loss rate and multiplying it by the asset’s amortized cost at the balance sheet date. This method appropriately reflects the Company´s risk pattern in relation to its accounts receivables.

The key components of the Company’s Loss-rate model are as follows:

•A list of the Company's customers credit rating and credit default risk rate from Bloomberg.

•Actual write-offs or reversals of previous write-offs of accounts receivables.

•Evaluation of other unusual facts and circumstances which could impact the credit loss rate, such as risk of bankruptcy or potential collectability issues.

The Company’s credit loss model includes the Company’s customer list. The customer list captures the existing customers. The list is put into a Bloomberg data query to generate customers short-term credit rating. The credit default risk rate is used to calculate the credit loss rate or estimated loss rate.

For customers that do not have credit default risk rate, management uses the six-month LIBOR rate as a credit rating and a credit default risk rate. Management believes that the six-month LIBOR rate adequately reflects the short-term nature of the Company’s trade receivables and is also in line with the Company’s invoice payment terms.

Concentration of Credit Risk

A substantial majority of the Company’s trade receivables are derived from sales to OEMs. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 the Company’s four largest customers accounted for 55% and 57% of net sales, respectively and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company’s four largest customers accounted for 61% and 59% of net sales, respectively. Additionally, as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, these four largest customers accounted for 41% and 39%, respectively, of the Company’s accounts receivables. The Company believes that the receivable balances from these largest customers do not represent a significant credit risk based on past collection experience. The Company has adopted credit policies and standards intended to accommodate industry growth and inherent risk. The Company believes that credit risks are moderated by the financial stability of the Company’s major customers.

New Accounting Standards

Changes to U.S. GAAP are established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) in the form of accounting standards updates (“ASUs”) to the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification.

The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have an immaterial impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held and requires enhanced disclosures regarding significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses. ASU 2016-13 is effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and earlier adoption is permitted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 effective January 1, 2020 and applied a loss rate model to compute the expected credit loss allowance. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-18 Collaborative Arrangements (Topic 808), Clarifying the Interaction between Topic 808 and Topic 606, which (1) clarifies that certain transactions between collaborative arrangement participants should be accounted for under ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), when the collaborative arrangement participant is a customer in the context of a unit of account, (2) adds unit-of-account guidance in Topic 808 to align with Topic 606 when an entity is assessing whether the collaborative arrangement, or a part of the arrangement, is within the scope of Topic 606, (3) precludes presenting transactions together with revenue when those transactions involve collaborative arrangement participants that are not directly related to third parties and are not customers. The Company adopted ASU 2018-18 in the first quarter of 2020. The adoption of ASU 2018-18 did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 removes the requirement to disclose: the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; the policy for timing of transfers between levels; and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 requires disclosure of changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income (loss) for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period and the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2018-18 in the first quarter of 2020. The adoption of ASU 2018-13 did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 affects any entity that enters into a lease, with some specified scope exceptions. For public business entities, the amendments in ASU 2016-02 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 in the annual period beginning January 1, 2019. The Company applied the modified retrospective transition method and elected the transition option to use the effective date January 1, 2019,

as the date of initial application. The Company did not adjust its comparative period financial statements for effects of ASU 2016-02, and has not made the new required lease disclosures for periods before the effective date. The Company has recognized its cumulative effect transition adjustment as of the effective date. In addition, the Company has elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which among other things, have allowed the Company to carry forward the historical lease classification. The adoption of the new standard resulted in recording operating lease assets and lease liabilities of approximately $75 million as of January 1, 2019. The adoption of the new lease standard did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740), Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which simplifies the accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 is effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020, and early adoption is permitted. The amendments related to changes in ownership of foreign equity method investments or foreign subsidiaries should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company plans to adopt ASU 2019-12 as of January 1, 2021. The Company has concluded that the pending adoption of ASU 2019-12 will not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General (Topic 715-20): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans. ASU 2018-14 modifies the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other post-retirement plans. ASU 2018-14 removes the requirements to disclose: amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year; the amount and timing of plan assets expected to be returned to the employer; and the effects of a one-percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates. ASU 2018-14 requires disclosure of an explanation of the reasons for significant gains and losses related to changes in the benefit obligation for the period. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted for all entities and the amendments in this update are required to be applied on a retrospective basis to all periods presented. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance to determine the impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.