ACCOUNTING AND DISCLOSURE CHANGES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

ACCOUNTING AND DISCLOSURE CHANGES

ACCOUNTING AND DISCLOSURE CHANGES

NOTE 3 ACCOUNTING AND DISCLOSURE CHANGES

RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING AND DISCLOSURE CHANGES

In November 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued new guidance related to the cash flow classification and presentation of the changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. The rules become effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Occidental is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The rules become effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Occidental is currently evaluating the impact of these rules on its financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to the classification of certain cash receipts and payments on the statement of cash flows. The rules become effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Occidental is currently evaluating the impact of these rules on its financial statements.

In March, April, and May of 2016, the FASB issued rules clarifying several aspects of the new revenue recognition standard, previously issued in May 2014. The guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods starting January 1, 2018. Under the new standard, an entity will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects what it expects to receive in exchange for the goods and services. The new standard also requires more detailed disclosures related to the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. Occidental will not early adopt the standard, and plans to use a modified retrospective approach upon adoption, with the cumulative effect of initial application recognized at the date of initial application subject to certain additional disclosures. Occidental has started the assessment process by evaluating its revenue streams and evaluating contracts under the revised standards. Occidental is currently evaluating the impact the standard is expected to have on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued rules affecting entities that issue share-based payment awards to their employees. These rules are designed to simplify several aspects of accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including: (1) accounting and cash flow classification for excess tax benefits and deficiencies, (2) forfeitures, and (3) tax withholding requirements and cash flow classification. The rules were adopted for the second quarter of 2016 and did not have a material impact on Occidental's financial statements upon adoption.

In March 2016, the FASB issued an update to eliminate the requirement to retrospectively adopt the equity method of accounting if an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership or degree of influence. The update requires that the equity method investor add the cost of acquiring the additional interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting. The rules became effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The rules do not have a material impact on Occidental's financial statements upon adoption.

In March 2016, the FASB issued rules clarifying that a change in one of the parties to a derivative contract that is part of a hedge accounting relationship does not, by itself, require dedesignation of that relationship, as long as all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met. The rules became effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. These rules do not have a material impact on Occidental's financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued rules which require Occidental to recognize most leases, including operating leases, on the balance sheet. The new rules require lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability for all leases with lease terms of more than 12 months. The lease liability represents the discounted obligation to make future minimum lease payments and corresponding right-of-use asset on the balance sheet for most leases. The guidance retains the current accounting for lessors and does not make significant changes to the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows by a lessee. Recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease will depend on classification as a finance or operating lease. Occidental is the lessee under various agreements for real estate, equipment, plants and facilities, aircraft, and vehicles that are currently accounted for as operating leases, refer to Note 6, Lease Commitments. As a result, these new rules will increase reported assets and liabilities. Occidental will not early adopt this standard. Occidental will apply the revised lease rules for our interim and annual reporting periods starting January 1, 2019 using a modified retrospective approach, including several optional practical expedients related to leases commenced before the effective date. Occidental is currently evaluating the impact of these rules on its financial statements and has started the assessment process by evaluating the population of leases under the revised definition. The quantitative impacts of the new standard are dependent on the leases in force at the time of adoption. As a result, the evaluation of the effect of the new standards will extend over future periods.

In April 2015, the FASB issued rules simplifying the presentation of debt issuance costs. The new rules require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. Occidental adopted these rules retrospectively as of January 1, 2016. These rules do not have a material impact on Occidental's financial statements.