Financial Statements

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Financial Statements

Financial Statements

The consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of Johnson Controls International plc, a corporation organized under the laws of Ireland, and its subsidiaries (Johnson Controls International plc and all its subsidiaries, hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Company" or "Johnson Controls"). In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) necessary to state fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") have been omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2018 filed with the SEC on November 20, 2018. The results of operations for the three and six month periods ended March 31, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of results for the Company’s 2019 fiscal year because of seasonal and other factors.

Nature of Operations

Johnson Controls International plc, headquartered in Cork, Ireland, is a global diversified technology and multi industrial leader serving a wide range of customers in more than 150 countries. The Company creates intelligent buildings, efficient energy solutions, integrated infrastructure and next generation transportation systems that work seamlessly together to deliver on the promise of smart cities and communities. The Company is committed to helping our customers win and creating greater value for all of its stakeholders through strategic focus on our buildings and energy growth platforms.

The Building Technologies & Solutions ("Buildings") business is a global market leader in engineering, developing, manufacturing and installing building products and systems around the world, including heating, ventilating, air-conditioning ("HVAC") equipment, HVAC controls, energy-management systems, security systems, fire detection systems and fire suppression solutions. The Buildings business further serves customers by providing technical services (in the HVAC, security and fire-protection space), energy-management consulting and data-driven solutions via its data-enabled business. Finally, the Company has a strong presence in the North American residential air conditioning and heating systems market and is a global market leader in industrial refrigeration products.

The Power Solutions business is a leading global supplier of lead-acid automotive batteries for virtually every type of passenger car, light truck and utility vehicle. The Company serves both automotive original equipment manufacturers and the general vehicle battery aftermarket. The Company also supplies advanced battery technologies to power start-stop, hybrid and electric vehicles. During the first quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company determined that its Power Solutions business met the criteria to be classified as a discontinued operation, which required retrospective application to financial information for all periods presented. Refer to Note 4, "Discontinued Operations" of the notes to consolidated financial statements for further information.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of Johnson Controls International plc and its subsidiaries that are consolidated in conformity with U.S. GAAP. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The results of companies acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated financial statements from the effective date of acquisition or up to the date of disposal. Investments in partially-owned affiliates are accounted for by the equity method when the Company’s interest exceeds 20% and the Company does not have a controlling interest.

Under certain criteria as provided for in Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 810, "Consolidation," the Company may consolidate a partially-owned affiliate. To determine whether to consolidate a partially-owned affiliate, the Company first determines if the entity is a variable interest entity ("VIE"). An entity is considered to be a VIE if it has one of the following characteristics: 1) the entity is thinly capitalized; 2) residual equity holders do not control the entity; 3) equity holders are shielded from economic losses or do not participate fully in the entity’s residual economics; or 4) the entity was established with non-substantive voting rights. If the entity meets one of these characteristics, the Company then determines if it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. The party with the power to direct activities of the

VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the potential to absorb benefits or losses that could be significant to the VIE is considered the primary beneficiary and consolidates the VIE. If the entity is not considered a VIE, then the Company applies the voting interest model to determine whether or not the Company shall consolidate the partially-owned affiliate.

The Company did not have a significant variable interest in any consolidated or nonconsolidated VIEs in its continuing operations for the presented reporting periods.

Restricted Cash

At March 31, 2019, the Company held restricted cash of approximately $19 million, all of which was recorded within other current assets in the consolidated statements of financial position. These amounts were related to cash restricted for payment of asbestos liabilities. At September 30, 2018, the Company held restricted cash of approximately $15 million, of which $6 million was recorded within other current assets in the consolidated statements of financial position and $9 million was recorded within other noncurrent assets in the consolidated statements of financial position.

Retrospective Changes

During the first quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company determined that its Power Solutions business met the criteria to be classified as a discontinued operation, which required retrospective application to financial information for all periods presented. Refer to Note 4, "Discontinued Operations" of the notes to consolidated financial statements for further information regarding the Company's discontinued operations.

In November 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-18, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)." The ASU requires amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents to be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-18 was effective retrospectively for the quarter ended December 31, 2018. The impact of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements for the periods presented.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments." ASU No. 2016-15 provides clarification guidance on eight specific cash flow presentation issues in order to reduce the diversity in practice. ASU No. 2016-15 was effective retrospectively for the Company for the quarter ending December 31, 2018. The adoption of this guidance had an impact on the presentation of equity swap funding and settlement activities since the activity changed from an operating activity to an investing activity.