ACCOUNTING POLICIES

For each accounting topic that is addressed in its own note, the description of the accompanying accounting policy may be found in the related note. The remaining accounting policies are described below.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements requires the use of estimates, as determined by management. Because of the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results reported in future periods might be based upon amounts that differ from those estimates. The accounting estimates that are most important to our business involve the allowance for credit losses and accumulated depreciation on vehicles subject to operating leases.

NOTE 2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Foreign Currency

We remeasure monetary assets and liabilities denominated in a currency that is different than a reporting entity’s functional currency from the transactional currency to the legal entity’s functional currency. The effect of this remeasurement process, and the results of our foreign currency hedging activities are reported in Other income, net.

Generally, our foreign subsidiaries use the local currency as their functional currency. We translate the assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiaries from their respective functional currencies to U.S. dollars using end-of-period exchange rates. Changes in the carrying value of these assets and liabilities attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates are recognized in Foreign currency translation, a component of Total Other comprehensive income / (Ioss), net of tax. Upon sale or upon complete or substantially complete liquidation of an investment in a foreign subsidiary, the amount of accumulated foreign currency translation related to the entity is reclassified to Net income and recognized as part of the gain or loss on the investment.

Fair Value Measurements

Cash equivalents, marketable securities, and derivative financial instruments are remeasured and presented on our financial statements on a recurring basis at fair value, while other assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

In measuring fair value, we use various valuation methods and prioritize the use of observable inputs. The use of observable and unobservable inputs and their significance in measuring fair value are reflected in our fair value hierarchy.


•	Level 1 – inputs include quoted prices for identical instruments and are the most observable


•	Level 2 – inputs include quoted prices for similar instruments and observable inputs such as interest rates, currency exchange rates, and yield curves


•	Level 3 – inputs include data not observable in the market and reflect management judgment about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the instruments

Transfers into and transfers out of the hierarchy levels are recognized as if they had taken place at the end of the reporting period.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging. On January 1, 2018, we adopted the amendments to Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 815 which aligns hedge accounting with risk management activities and simplifies the requirements to qualify for hedge accounting. Adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2016-01 and the related amendments. This standard amends various aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. We adopted the measurement alternative for equity investments without readily determinable fair values (often referred to as cost method investments) on a prospective basis. As a result, these investments will be revalued upon occurrence of an observable price change for similar investments and for impairments. We anticipate adoption may increase the volatility on our consolidated income statement.

NOTE 2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

We also adopted the following standards during 2018, none of which had a material impact to our financial statements or financial statement disclosures:



Standard		Effective Date
2017-08	Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs - Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities	January 1, 2018
2016-18	Statement of Cash Flows - Restricted Cash	January 1, 2018
2016-16	Income Taxes - Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory	January 1, 2018
2016-15	Statement of Cash Flows - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments	January 1, 2018

Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted

The following represent the standards that will, or are expected to, result in a significant change in practice and / or have a significant financial impact to Ford Credit.

ASU 2016-13, Credit Losses - Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued a new accounting standard which replaces the current incurred loss impairment method with a method that reflects expected credit losses. We plan to adopt the new standard, and the related amendments, on its effective date of January 1, 2020 by recognizing the cumulative effect of initially applying the new standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of Retained earnings. We anticipate adoption will increase the amount of expected credit losses reported in Finance receivables, net on our consolidated balance sheet and do not expect a material impact to our consolidated income statement.

ASU 2016-02, Leases - In February 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard which provides guidance on the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of leases. The new standard supersedes the present U.S. GAAP standard on leases and requires substantially all leases to be reported on the balance sheet as right-of-use assets and lease obligations. The new standard, and the related amendments, are effective on January 1, 2019. Adoption of the standard as a lessor will not significantly impact our financial statements. As a lessee, it will add about $100 million of right-of-use assets and lease obligations to our balance sheet and will not significantly impact our income statement. We will elect the practical expedients upon transition that will retain the lease classification and initial direct costs for any leases that exist prior to adoption of the standard and not reassess whether any contracts entered into prior to adoption are leases.