Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

The Company continually evaluates its investments to determine if they represent variable interests in a VIE. If the Company determines that it has a variable interest in a VIE, the Company then evaluates if it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. The evaluation is a qualitative assessment as to whether the Company has the ability to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. The Company consolidates a VIE if it is considered to be the primary beneficiary.

Assets and liabilities of VIEs for which the Company is the primary beneficiary were not significant to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. VIE creditors do not have recourse against the general credit of the Company.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company utilizes the three-level valuation hierarchy for the recognition and disclosure of fair value measurements. The categorization of assets and liabilities within this hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the measurement of fair value. The three levels of the hierarchy consist of the following:


•	Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.


•	Level 2 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices in markets that are not active or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the instrument.


•	Level 3 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable inputs based upon management’s best estimate of inputs market participants could use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date, including assumptions about risk.

As of June 30, 2016, the carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximated their fair value due to the nature of these financial instruments. The Company invests in money market funds, commercial paper and time deposits that are classified as cash and cash equivalents within the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets, as these funds are highly liquid and readily convertible to known amounts of cash. These investments are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices. The Company’s short-term investments consist of certificates of deposit with initial maturities of greater than three months when purchased that mature within one year from the balance sheet date. These investments, which are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy, are carried at fair value. This approximated historical cost at June 30, 2016. The carrying amount and estimated fair value of the Company’s total long-term debt was $27.9 billion and $30.5 billion, respectively, as of June 30, 2016. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt was estimated based on quoted prices currently offered in active markets for the Company’s debt, which is considered Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 outlines a single comprehensive model for companies to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, “Principal Versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross Versus Net),” which amends the principal-versus-agent implementation guidance and in April 2016 the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, "Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing," which amends the guidance in those areas in the new revenue recognition standard. Both ASU's were issued in response to feedback received from the FASB-International Accounting Standards Board joint revenue recognition transition resource group. This new revenue standard is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning January 1, 2018; early adoption in 2017 is permitted. Companies have the option of using either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach to adopt the guidance. This standard could impact the timing and amounts of revenue recognized. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that implementation of this standard will have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations upon adoption, as well as the method of transition and required disclosures.

In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740). The new guidance simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes by requiring that deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The updated standard is effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2017 with early application permitted as of the beginning of any interim or annual reporting period. The Company has elected to early adopt this standard as of January 1, 2016 and has, accordingly, reclassified the current deferred tax assets to noncurrent deferred tax liabilities for all periods presented. The following is a reconciliation of the effect of the reclassification on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015:



In millions	As Previously Reported		Adjustments			As Revised
Deferred tax assets - current	$	1,220	$	(1,220	)	$	—
Total current assets	30,378		(1,220		)	29,158
Total assets	93,657		(1,220		)	92,437
Deferred tax liabilities - noncurrent	5,437		(1,220		)	4,217
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	93,657		(1,220		)	92,437

In February 2016, the FASB issued a new lease accounting standard, ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). Lessees will be required to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for virtually all of their leases (other than leases that meet the definition of a short-term lease). The liability will be equal to the present value of lease payments. The asset will be based on the liability, subject to adjustment, such as for initial direct costs. For income statement purposes, a dual model was retained, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance leases. Operating leases will result in straight-line expense (similar to current operating leases) while finance leases will result in a front-loaded expense pattern (similar to current capital leases). Lessor accounting is similar to the current model, but updated to align with certain changes to the lessee model (e.g., certain definitions, such as initial direct costs, have been updated) and the new revenue recognition standard. The standard is effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company believes that the new standard will have a material impact on its consolidated balance sheet but it will not have a material impact on its liquidity. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that implementation of this standard will have on its consolidated results of operations upon adoption.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which amends Accounting Standard Codification Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, in three areas. (1) The new guidance eliminates accounting for tax benefits and deficiencies through equity to the extent of previous windfalls, and then to the income statement. The new requirement is to record all tax benefits and deficiencies through the income statement. This amendment is required to be applied prospectively. The amendment requires the presentation of excess tax benefits on the statements of cash flows as operating activities, which may be applied prospectively or retrospectively at the election of the Company. The amendment requires the presentation of employee taxes paid on the statement of cash flows when an employer withholds shares for tax withholding purposes as financing activities, which must be applied retrospectively. (2) The new guidance also permits companies to withhold an amount up to the employees' maximum individual tax rate in the relevant jurisdiction without resulting in liability classification of the award. (3) Finally, the new guidance provides companies with an accounting policy election for the impact of forfeitures on the recognition of expense for share-based payment awards. Forfeitures can be estimated, as required today, or recognized when they occur. If elected, the change to recognize forfeitures when they occur needs to be adopted using a modified retrospective approach, with a cumulative effect adjustment recorded to beginning retained earnings. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that annual reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance.