Note 1 - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Notes to Financial Statements

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

General

Dana Incorporated (Dana) is headquartered in Maumee, Ohio, and was incorporated in Delaware in 2007. As a global provider of high technology driveline (axles, driveshafts and transmissions); sealing and thermal-management products; and motors, power inverters, and control systems for electric vehicles, our customer base includes virtually every major vehicle manufacturer in the global light vehicle, medium/heavy vehicle, and off-highway markets.

The terms "Dana," "we," "our" and "us," when used in this report are references to Dana. These references include the subsidiaries of Dana unless otherwise indicated or the context requires otherwise.

Summary of significant accounting policies

Basis of presentation — Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all subsidiaries where we hold a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Investments in 20 to 50%-owned affiliates, which are not required to be consolidated, are generally accounted for under the equity method. Equity in earnings of these investments is presented separately in the consolidated statement of operations, net of tax. Investments in less-than-20%-owned companies are generally included in the financial statements at the cost of our investment. Dividends, royalties and fees from these cost basis affiliates are recorded in income when received.

During the second quarter of 2020, we identified an error in the loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests due to incorrectly excluding the share of the goodwill impairment charge related to the redeemable noncontrolling interests. Of the $48 million impairment charge recorded for the Commercial Vehicle reporting unit during the quarter ended March 31, 2020, $20 million should have been attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests.

We concluded that the error was not material to the financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 and therefore, amendment of the previously filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 is not required. In accordance with ASC Topic 250, "Accounting Changes and Error Corrections," we have corrected the error in the prior period by revising the year-to-date consolidated financial statements appearing herein. The first quarter of 2020 not presented herein will be revised, as applicable, in future filings. The following historical consolidated financial information includes both the consolidated financial information “as previously reported” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, as well as the consolidated financial information “as revised” to reflect the correction of the error. Reference is made to the Quarterly Results disclosure in Item 8 below. The impact on our consolidated financial statements for the prior periods presented was insignificant.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020
	As Previously Reported			Adjustment			As Revised
	(unaudited)
Consolidated Statement of Operations
Net income	$	38		$	—		$	38
Less: Noncontrolling interests net income		2						2
Less: Redeemable noncontrolling interests net loss		(2	)		(20	)		(22	)
Net income attributable to the parent company	$	38		$	20		$	58
Net income per share available to common stockholders
Basic	$	0.26		$	0.14		$	0.40
Diluted	$	0.26		$	0.14		$	0.40
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
Total comprehensive loss	$	(84	)	$	—		$	(84	)
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		17						17
Less: Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests		(6	)		20			14
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the parent company	$	(73	)	$	20		$	(53	)
	Period Ended March 31,
	2020
	As Previously Reported			Adjustment			As Revised
	(unaudited)
Consolidated Balance Sheet
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	$	175		$	(20	)	$	155
Retained earnings	$	644		$	20		$	664

Held for sale — We classify long-lived assets or disposal groups as held for sale in the period: management commits to a plan to sell; the long-lived asset or disposal group is available for immediate sale in its present condition subject only to terms that are usual and customary for sales of such long-lived assets or disposal groups; an active program to locate a buyer and other actions required to complete the plan to sell have been initiated; the sale is probable within one year; the asset or disposal group is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value; and it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn. Long-lived assets and disposal groups classified as held for sale are measured at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.

Discontinued operations — The results of operations of a component or a group of components that either has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale is reported in discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on operations and financial results.

Estimates — Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP), which require the use of estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying disclosures. We believe our assumptions and estimates are reasonable and appropriate. However, due to the inherent uncertainties in making estimates, actual results could differ from those estimates.

Fair value measurements — A three-tier fair value hierarchy is used to prioritize the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The three levels of inputs are as follows: Level 1 inputs (highest priority) include unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar instruments that are observable either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs (lowest priority) include unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require management to develop its own assumptions. Classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The inputs we use in our valuation techniques include market data or assumptions that we believe market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability, including assumptions about risk when appropriate. Our valuation techniques include a combination of observable and unobservable inputs. When available, we use quoted market prices to determine the fair value (market approach). In the absence of active markets for the identical assets or liabilities, such measurements involve developing assumptions based on market observable data and, in the absence of such data, we consider the amount and timing of estimated future cash flows and assumed discount rates reflecting varying degrees of credit risk that is consistent with what market participants would use in a hypothetical transaction that occurs at the measurement date (income approach). Fair values may not represent actual values of the financial instruments that could be realized as of the balance sheet date or that will be realized in the future.

Cash and cash equivalents — Cash and cash equivalents includes cash on hand, demand deposits and short-term cash investments that are highly liquid in nature and have maturities of three months or less when purchased.

Marketable securities — Our investments in marketable securities reported in the accompanying balance sheet are classified as available for sale and carried at fair value. We recorded unrealized gains and losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) through the end of 2017 but recorded them in net income beginning in 2018 to comply with new accounting guidance. Realized gains and losses are recorded using the specific identification method.

Inventories — Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the average or first-in, first-out (FIFO) cost method.

Property, plant and equipment — Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is recognized over the estimated useful lives using primarily the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes and accelerated depreciation methods for federal income tax purposes. Useful lives of newly acquired assets are generally twenty to thirty years for buildings and building improvements, five to ten years for machinery and equipment, three to five years for tooling and office equipment and three to ten years for furniture and fixtures. If assets are impaired, their value is reduced via an increase in accumulated depreciation.

Leases — Our global lease portfolio represents leases of real estate, including manufacturing, assembly and office facilities, while the remainder represents leases of personal property, including manufacturing, material handling and IT equipment. We have lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are accounted for separately. Leases with an initial term of twelve months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet, and we recognize lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Generally, we use our incremental borrowing rate in determining the present value of lease payments, unless there is a rate stated in the lease agreement.

Pre-production costs related to long-term supply arrangements — The costs of tooling used to make products sold under long-term supply arrangements are capitalized as part of property, plant and equipment and amortized over their useful lives if we own the tooling or if we fund the purchase but our customer owns the tooling and grants us the irrevocable right to use the tooling over the contract period. If we have a contractual right to bill our customers, costs incurred in connection with the design and development of tooling are carried as a component of other accounts receivable until invoiced. Design and development costs related to customer products are deferred if we have an agreement to collect such costs from the customer; otherwise, they are expensed when incurred. At  December 31, 2020, the machinery and equipment component of property, plant and equipment includes $23 of our tooling related to long-term supply arrangements. Also at  December 31, 2020, trade and other accounts receivable includes $31 of costs related to tooling that we have a contractual right to collect from our customers.

Goodwill — We test goodwill for impairment annually as of October 31 and more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that would warrant an interim review. Goodwill impairment testing is performed at the reporting unit level, which is the operating segment in the case of our Off-Highway and Commercial Vehicle goodwill. We estimate the fair value of the reporting units using various valuation methodologies, including discounted cash flow projections and multiples of current earnings. In determining fair value using discounted cash flow projections, we make significant assumptions and estimates about the extent and timing of future cash flows, including revenue growth rates, projected segment EBITDA, discount rates, terminal growth rates, and exit earnings multiples. If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, the goodwill is considered not impaired. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value, a goodwill impairment charge is recorded for the difference. See Note 3 for more information about goodwill.

Intangible assets — Intangible assets include the value of core technology, trademarks and trade names and customer relationships. Core technology and customer relationships have definite lives while substantially all of our trademarks and trade names have indefinite lives. Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their useful life using the straight-line method of amortization and are periodically reviewed for impairment indicators. Amortization of core technology is charged to cost of sales. Amortization of trademarks and trade names and customer relationships is charged to amortization of intangibles. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment annually and more frequently if impairment indicators exist. See Note 3 for more information about intangible assets.

Investments in affiliates — Investments in affiliates include investments accounted for under the equity and cost methods. We monitor our investments in affiliates for indicators of other-than-temporary declines in value on an ongoing basis in accordance with GAAP. Indicators include, but are not limited to, current economic and market conditions, operating performance of the affiliate, including current earnings trends and undiscounted cash flows, and other affiliate-specific information. If we determine that an other-than-temporary decline in value has occurred, we recognize an impairment loss, which is measured as the excess of the investment's recorded carrying value over its fair value. The fair value determination, particularly for investments in privately-held companies, requires significant judgment to determine appropriate estimates and assumptions. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could affect the calculation of the fair value of the investments and determination of whether any identified impairment is other than temporary. See Note 22 for further information about our investment in affiliates.

Tangible asset impairments — We review the carrying value of amortizable long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the assets to the undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds their fair value. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell and are no longer depreciated.

Other long-lived assets and liabilities — We discount our workers’ compensation obligations by applying blended risk-free rates that are appropriate for the duration of the projected cash flows. The use of risk-free rates is considered appropriate given that other risks affecting the volume and timing of payments have been considered in developing the probability-weighted projected cash flows. The blended risk-free rates are revised annually to consider incremental cash flow projections.

Financial instruments — The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and short-term borrowings approximate fair value. Notes receivable are carried at fair value, which considers the contractual call or selling price, if applicable. Borrowings under our credit facilities are carried at historical cost and adjusted for principal payments and foreign currency fluctuations.

Derivatives — Foreign currency forward contracts and currency swaps are carried at fair value. We enter into these contracts to manage our exposure to the impact of currency fluctuations on certain foreign currency-denominated assets and liabilities and on a portion of our forecasted purchase and sale transactions. On occasion, we also enter into net investment hedges to protect the translated U.S. dollar value of our investment in certain foreign subsidiaries. We also periodically enter into fixed-to-fixed cross-currency swaps on foreign currency-denominated external or intercompany debt instruments to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk. Such fixed-to-fixed cross-currency swaps are designated as cash flow hedges. We do not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes and we do not hedge all of our exposures.

For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, at the cash flow hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, the company formally assesses whether the cash flow hedging instruments have been highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of the hedged transactions and whether those cash flow hedging instruments may be expected to remain highly effective in future periods. Changes in the fair value of currency-related contracts treated as cash flow hedges are deferred and included as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) (OCI). For our fixed-to-fixed cross-currency swaps, a review of critical terms is performed each period to establish that an assumption of effectiveness remains appropriate. Deferred gains and losses are reclassified to earnings in the same periods in which the underlying transactions affect earnings.

Changes in the fair value of contracts not treated as cash flow hedges or as net investment hedges are recognized in other income (expense), net in the period in which those changes occur. Changes in the fair value of contracts treated as net investment hedges are recorded in the cumulative translation adjustment (CTA) component of OCI. Amounts recorded in CTA are deferred until such time as the investment in the associated subsidiary is substantially liquidated.

We may also use fixed-to-floating or floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps or other similar derivatives to manage exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and to adjust the mix of our fixed-rate and variable-rate debt. As a fair value hedge of the underlying debt, changes in the fair values of the swap and the underlying debt are recorded in interest expense. No such fixed-to-floating or floating-to-fixed swaps were outstanding at December 31, 2020. See Note 15 for additional information.

Cash flows associated with designated derivatives are classified within the same category as the item being hedged on the consolidated statement of cash flows. Cash flows associated with undesignated derivatives are included in the investing category on the consolidated statement of cash flows.

Warranty — Costs related to product warranty obligations are estimated and accrued at the time of sale with a charge against cost of sales. Warranty accruals are evaluated and adjusted as appropriate based on occurrences giving rise to potential warranty exposure and associated experience. Warranty accruals and adjustments require significant judgment, including a determination of our involvement in the matter giving rise to the potential warranty issue or claim, our contractual requirements, estimates of units requiring repair and estimates of repair costs.

Environmental compliance and remediation — Environmental expenditures that relate to current operations are expensed or capitalized as appropriate. Expenditures that relate to existing conditions caused by past operations that do not contribute to our current or future revenue generation are expensed. Liabilities are recorded when environmental assessments and/or remedial efforts are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. We consider the most probable method of remediation, current laws and regulations and existing technology in determining our environmental liabilities.

Pension and other postretirement defined benefits — Net pension and postretirement benefits expenses and the related liabilities are determined on an actuarial basis. These plan expenses and obligations are dependent on management’s assumptions developed in consultation with our actuaries. We review these actuarial assumptions at least annually and make modifications when appropriate. With the input of independent actuaries and other relevant sources, we believe that the assumptions used are reasonable; however, changes in these assumptions, or experience different from that assumed, could impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Postemployment benefits — Costs to provide postemployment benefits to employees are accounted for on an accrual basis. Obligations that do not accumulate or vest are recorded when payment is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. For those obligations that accumulate or vest and the amount can be reasonably estimated, expense and the related liability are recorded as service is rendered.

Equity-based compensation — We measure compensation cost arising from the grant of share-based awards to employees at fair value. We recognize such costs in income over the period during which the requisite service is provided, usually the vesting period. The grant date fair value is estimated using valuation techniques that require the input of management estimates and assumptions.

Revenue recognition — Sales are recognized when products are shipped and risk of loss has transferred to the customer. We accrue for warranty costs, sales returns and other allowances based on experience and other relevant factors when sales are recognized. Adjustments are made as new information becomes available. Shipping and handling fees billed to customers are included in sales, while costs of shipping and handling are included in cost of sales. Taxes collected from customers are excluded from revenues and credited directly to obligations to the appropriate governmental agencies. See Note 20 for additional information.

Foreign currency translation — The financial statements of subsidiaries and equity affiliates outside the U.S. located in non-highly inflationary economies are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which they operate as the functional currency, which typically is the local currency. Transaction gains and losses resulting from translating assets and liabilities of these entities into the functional currency are included in other income (expense), net or in equity in earnings of affiliates. When translating into U.S. dollars, income and expense items are translated at average monthly rates of exchange, while assets and liabilities are translated at the rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. Translation adjustments resulting from translating the functional currency into U.S. dollars are deferred and included as a component of AOCI in stockholders’ equity. For operations whose functional currency is the U.S. dollar, nonmonetary assets are translated into U.S. dollars at historical exchange rates and monetary assets are translated at current exchange rates.

Effective July 1, 2018, we accounted for Argentina as a highly inflationary economy, as the three-year cumulative inflation rate exceeded 100%. As such, beginning July 1, 2018 we began to remeasure the financial statements of our Argentine subsidiaries as if their functional currency was the U.S. dollar.

Income taxes — In the ordinary course of business there is inherent uncertainty in quantifying our income tax positions. We assess our income tax positions and record tax assets or liabilities for all years subject to examination based upon management’s evaluation of the facts and circumstances and information available at the reporting dates. For those tax positions where it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will be sustained, we have recorded the largest amount of tax benefit with a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. For those income tax positions where it is not more likely than not that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the financial statements. Where applicable, the related interest cost has also been recognized as a component of the income tax provision.

Research and development — Research and development costs include expenditures for research activities relating to product development and improvement. Salaries, fringes and occupancy costs, including building, utility and overhead costs, comprise the vast majority of these expenses and are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses were $146, $112 and $103 in 2020, 2019 and 2018. During 2020, we focused our engineering spend more heavily on research and development activities in support of electrification and other initiatives.

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

On January 1, 2019, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), using the modified retrospective approach and an application date of January 1, 2019. Prior period amounts have not been adjusted and continue to be reflected in accordance with our historical accounting. This transition method resulted in the recognition of a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for virtually all leases at the application date with a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings.

We elected the package of practical expedients, which among other things, allowed us to carry forward the historical lease classification. We did not elect the practical expedient that allowed for hindsight to determine the lease term of existing leases. We separated the lease components from the non-lease components of each lease arrangement and, therefore, did not elect the practical expedient that would enable us to not separate them.

On January 1, 2020, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-03, Financial Instruments (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, using the modified retrospective approach and an application date of January 1, 2020. This guidance introduces a new approach to estimating credit losses on certain types of financial instruments and modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities. The adoption resulted in a noncash cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings on our opening consolidated balance sheet as of January 1, 2020.

We also adopted the following standards during 2020, which did not have a material impact on our financial statements or financial statement disclosures:

Standard		Effective Date
2018-15	Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software, Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract	January 1, 2020
2018-14	Compensation – Retirement Benefits – Defined Benefit Plans – General, Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans	January 1, 2020
2018-13	Fair Value Measurement, Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement	January 1, 2020

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This guidance is intended to provide temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the US GAAP guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burden related to the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. The amendments in this ASU are elective and are effective upon issuance for all entities through December 31, 2022. We are currently assessing the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes – Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. This guidance is intended to simplify various aspects of income tax accounting including the elimination of certain exceptions related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. The new guidance also simplifies aspects of the accounting for franchise taxes and enacted changes in tax laws or rates and clarifies the accounting for transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill. This guidance becomes effective January 1, 2021 and early adoption is permitted. Adoption of this guidance requires certain changes to primarily be made prospectively, with some changes to be made retrospectively.  We do not expect adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.