RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS Footnote

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]

Recent Accounting Developments [Note Text Block]

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)." The Company adopted the provisions of this guidance effective January 1, 2019, using the modified retrospective optional transition method. Therefore, the standard was applied beginning January 1, 2019 and prior periods were not restated. The adoption of the standard did not result in a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of Retained earnings. The Company elected the package of practical expedients and implemented internal controls and system functionality to enable the preparation of financial information upon adoption.

The adoption of the new standard resulted in the recognition of a right of use asset and short-term and long-term liabilities recorded on the Company's consolidated balance sheet related to operating leases. Accounting for finance leases remained substantially unchanged. In addition, the adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations or cash flows.

Comprehensive Income

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, "Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income." This guidance gives entities the option to reclassify stranded tax effects caused by the newly-enacted U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. As a result, the Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2019, and recorded a net increase to opening Retained earnings and a decrease to opening Accumulated other comprehensive income of $529 million, due to the cumulative impact of adopting the new guidance.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

Intangibles

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment." This guidance eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill under Step 2 of today's goodwill impairment test to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit's carrying amount over its fair value. This guidance should be applied prospectively and is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, for any impairment test performed in 2020. Early adoption is permitted for annual and interim goodwill impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company plans to early adopt this guidance in the fourth quarter of 2019 in conjunction with our annual evaluation for possible goodwill impairment which is performed in addition to interim evaluations when management believes that it is more likely than not, that events or circumstances have occurred that would result in the impairment of a reporting unit's goodwill.

Financial Instruments - Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments." This guidance replaces the current incurred loss impairment method with a method that reflects expected credit losses. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019,

including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. This guidance should be applied using the modified-retrospective approach. In May 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-05, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief." The amendments in this Update provide entities with targeted transition relief that is intended to increase comparability of financial statement information for some entities that otherwise would have measured similar financial instruments using different measurement methodologies. The amendments also decrease costs for some financial statement preparers while providing financial statement users with decision-useful information. For entities that have not yet adopted the amendments in Update 2016-13, the effective date and transition methodology for the amendments in this Update are the same as in Update 2016-13. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this guidance and plans to adopt this guidance and the related amendments on its effective date of January 1, 2020, by recognizing any cumulative effect of initially applying the new standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of Retained earnings.

Pension Plan Disclosures

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-09, "Codification Improvements," which included amendments to Subtopic 962-325. This disclosure guidance pertains to the presentation of certain types of investments and is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this guidance and its potential impact on our 2019 annual Form 10-K disclosures and presentation related to pension plan assets.