Recently Adopted and Recently Issued Accounting Guidance (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Recently Adopted and Recently Issued Accounting Guidance

Adopted

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued changes to the accounting and presentation of leases. These changes require lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability on the balance sheet, initially measured at the present value of the future lease payments for all operating leases with a term greater than 12 months.

These changes became effective for Arconic on January 1, 2019 and have been applied using the modified retrospective approach as of the date of adoption, under which leases existing at, or entered into after, January 1, 2019 were required to be recognized and measured. Prior period amounts have not been adjusted and continue to be reflected in accordance with the Company’s historical accounting. The Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which among other things, allowed the Company to carry forward the historical lease classification. The Company also elected to separate lease components from non-lease components for all classes of assets.

The adoption of this new standard resulted in the Company recording operating lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities of approximately $320 on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of January 1, 2019. Also, the Company reclassified cash proceeds of $119 from Other noncurrent liabilities and deferred credits, assets of $24 from Properties, plants, and equipment, net, and deferred tax assets of $22 from Other noncurrent assets to Accumulated deficit reflecting the cumulative effect of an accounting change related to the sale-leaseback of the Texarkana, Texas cast house (see Note Q). The adoption of the standard had no impact on the Statement of Consolidated Operations or Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows.

In August 2017, the FASB issued guidance that made more financial and nonfinancial hedging strategies eligible for hedge accounting. It also amended the presentation and disclosure requirements and changed how companies assess effectiveness. It is intended to more closely align hedge accounting with companies’ risk management strategies, simplify the application of hedge accounting, and increase transparency as to the scope and results of hedging programs. These changes became effective for Arconic on January 1, 2019. For cash flow hedges, Arconic recorded a cumulative effect adjustment of $2 related to eliminating the separate measurement of ineffectiveness by decreasing Accumulated other comprehensive loss and increasing Accumulated deficit on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet. The amendments to presentation and disclosure are required prospectively. Arconic has determined that under the new accounting guidance it is able to more broadly use cash flow hedge accounting for its variable priced inventory purchases and customer sales.

In March 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued guidance to modernize and simplify certain disclosure requirements in a manner that reduces the costs and burdens on preparers while continuing to provide all material information to investors. This guidance became effective on May 2, 2019 and has been applied to filings thereafter. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Issued

In June 2016, the FASB added a new impairment model (known as the current expected credit loss (CECL) model) that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. Under the new guidance, an entity recognizes as an allowance its estimate of expected credit losses. The CECL model applies to most debt instruments, trade receivables, lease receivables, financial guarantee contracts, and other loan commitments. The CECL model does not have a minimum threshold for recognition of impairment losses and entities will need to measure expected credit losses on assets that have a low risk of loss. These changes become effective for Arconic on January 1, 2020. Management is currently evaluating the potential impact of these changes on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance that impacts disclosures for defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans. These changes become effective for Arconic's annual report for the year ending December 31, 2020, with early adoption permitted. Management has determined that the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share (EPS) amounts are computed by dividing earnings, after the deduction of preferred stock dividends declared, by the average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS amounts assume the issuance of common stock for all potentially dilutive share equivalents outstanding.

Receivables

Cash receipts from customer payments on sold receivables (which are cash receipts on the underlying trade receivables that have been previously sold in this program) as well as cash receipts and cash disbursements from draws and repayments under the program are presented as cash receipts from sold receivables within investing activities in the Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows.