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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Lear consolidates all entities, including variable interest entities, in which it has a controlling financial interest. Investments in affiliates in which Lear does not have control, but does have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies, are accounted for under the equity method (Note 5, "Investments in Affiliates and Other Related Party Transactions").

Fiscal Period Reporting

The Company’s annual financial results are reported on a calendar year basis, and quarterly interim results are reported using a thirteen week reporting calendar.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash and cash equivalents include all highly liquid investments with original maturities of ninety days or less. Restricted cash includes cash that is legally restricted as to use or withdrawal.

Accounts Receivable

The Company records accounts receivable as title is transferred to its customers. The Company’s customers are the world’s major automotive manufacturers. The Company records accounts receivable reserves for known collectibility issues, as such issues relate to specific transactions or customer balances. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, accounts receivable are reflected net of reserves of $33.2 million and $41.8 million, respectively. The Company writes off accounts receivable when it becomes apparent, based upon age or customer circumstances, that such amounts will not be collected. Generally, the Company does not require collateral for its accounts receivable.

The Company receives bank notes from its customers, which are classified as other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets, for certain amounts of accounts receivable, primarily in Asia. The Company may hold such bank notes until maturity, exchange them with suppliers to settle liabilities or sell them to third-party financial institutions in exchange for cash.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. Finished goods and work-in-process inventories include material, labor and manufacturing overhead costs. The Company records reserves for inventory in excess of production and/or forecasted requirements and for obsolete inventory in production and service inventories.

Pre-Production Costs Related to Long-Term Supply Agreements

The Company incurs pre-production engineering and development ("E&D") and tooling costs related to the products produced for its customers under long-term supply agreements. The Company expenses all pre-production E&D costs for which reimbursement is not contractually guaranteed by the customer. In addition, the Company expenses all pre-production tooling costs related to customer-owned tools for which reimbursement is not contractually guaranteed by the customer or for which the Company does not have a non-cancelable right to use the tooling.

During 2018 and 2017, the Company capitalized $230.6 million and $257.4 million, respectively, of pre-production E&D costs for which reimbursement is contractually guaranteed by the customer. During 2018 and 2017, the Company also capitalized $198.1 million and $115.4 million, respectively, of pre-production tooling costs related to customer-owned tools for which reimbursement is contractually guaranteed by the customer or for which the Company has a non-cancelable right to use the tooling. These amounts are included in other current and long-term assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost. Costs associated with the repair and maintenance of the Company’s property, plant and equipment are expensed as incurred. Costs associated with improvements which extend the life, increase the capacity or improve the efficiency or safety of the Company’s property, plant and equipment are capitalized and depreciated over the remaining useful life of the related asset. Depreciable property is depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets, using principally the straight-line method as follows:



Buildings and improvements	10 to 40 years
Machinery and equipment	5 to 10 years

Impairment of Goodwill

Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment on at least an annual basis. Impairment testing is required more often than annually if an event or circumstance indicates that an impairment is more likely than not to have occurred. In conducting its annual impairment testing, the Company may first perform a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount. If not, no further goodwill impairment testing is required. If it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount, or if the Company elects not to perform a qualitative assessment of a reporting unit, the Company then compares the fair value of the reporting unit to the related net book value. If the net book value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is measured and recognized. The Company conducts its annual impairment testing as of the first day of its fourth quarter.

The Company utilizes an income approach to estimate the fair value of each of its reporting units and a market valuation approach to further support this analysis. The income approach is based on projected debt-free cash flow which is discounted to the present value using discount factors that consider the timing and risk of cash flows. The Company believes that this approach is appropriate because it provides a fair value estimate based upon the reporting unit’s expected long-term operating cash flow performance. This approach also mitigates the impact of cyclical trends that occur in the industry. Fair value is estimated using recent automotive industry and specific platform production volume projections, which are based on both third-party and internally developed forecasts, as well as commercial and discount rate assumptions. The discount rate used is the value-weighted average of the Company’s estimated cost of equity and of debt ("cost of capital") derived using both known and estimated customary market metrics. The Company’s weighted average cost of capital is adjusted by reporting unit to reflect a risk factor, if necessary. Other significant assumptions include terminal value growth rates, terminal value margin rates, future capital expenditures and changes in future working capital requirements. While there are inherent uncertainties related to the assumptions used and to management’s application of these assumptions to this analysis, the Company believes that the income approach provides a reasonable estimate of the fair value of its reporting units. The market valuation approach is used to further support the Company’s analysis and is based on recent transactions involving comparable companies.

Amortized Intangible Assets

As of December 31, 2018, intangible assets consist primarily of certain intangible assets recorded in connection with the acquisitions of Guilford Mills in 2012, the parent company of Eagle Ottawa, LLC in 2015, AccuMED in 2016 and Grupo Antolin's automotive seating business ("Antolin Seating") in 2017 (Note 3, "Acquisitions"). These intangible assets were recorded at their estimated fair value, based on independent appraisals, as of the transaction or acquisition date. The value assigned to technology intangibles is based on the royalty savings method, which applies a hypothetical royalty rate to projected revenues attributable to the identified technologies. Royalty rates were determined based primarily on analysis of market information. The customer-based intangible asset includes the acquired entity's established relationships with its customers and the ability of these customers to generate future economic profits for the Company. The value assigned to customer-based intangibles is based on the present value of future earnings attributable to the asset group after recognition of required returns to other contributory assets.

Unamortized Intangible Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company monitors its long-lived assets for impairment indicators on an ongoing basis in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). If impairment indicators exist, the Company performs the required impairment analysis by comparing the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated from the long-lived assets to the related net book values. If the net book value exceeds the undiscounted cash flows, an impairment loss is measured and recognized. An impairment loss is measured as the difference between the net book value and the fair value of the long-lived assets. Fair value is estimated based upon a combination of market and cost approaches, as appropriate.

Impairment of Investments in Affiliates

The Company monitors its investments in affiliates for indicators of other-than-temporary declines in value on an ongoing basis in accordance with GAAP. If the Company determines that an other-than-temporary decline in value has occurred, it recognizes an impairment loss, which is measured as the difference between the recorded book value and the fair value of the investment. Fair value is generally determined using an income approach based on discounted cash flows or negotiated transaction values.

Revenue Recognition and Sales Commitments, Cost of Sales

Revenue Recognition and Sales Commitments

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," using the modified retrospective method as applied to customer contracts that were not completed as of January 1, 2018. As a result, financial information for reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018, are presented in accordance with ASC 606. Comparative financial information for reporting periods beginning prior to January 1, 2018, has not been adjusted and continues to be reported in accordance with the Company's revenue recognition policies prior to the adoption of ASC 606. The Company did not record a cumulative adjustment related to the adoption of ASC 606, and the effects of adoption were not significant.

The Company enters into contracts with its customers to provide production parts generally at the beginning of a vehicle’s life cycle. Typically, these contracts do not provide for a specified quantity of products, but once entered into, the Company is often expected to fulfill its customers’ purchasing requirements for the production life of the vehicle. Many of these contracts may be terminated by the Company’s customers at any time. Historically, terminations of these contracts have been minimal. The Company receives purchase orders from its customers, which provide the commercial terms for a particular production part, including price (but not quantities). Contracts may also provide for annual price reductions over the production life of the vehicle, and prices may be adjusted on an ongoing basis to reflect changes in product content/cost and other commercial factors.

Revenue is recognized at a point in time when control of the product is transferred to the customer under standard commercial terms, as the Company does not have an enforceable right to payment prior to such transfer. The amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration that the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those products based on the annual purchase orders, annual price reductions and ongoing price adjustments (some of which is accounted for as variable consideration). The Company does not believe that there will be significant changes to its estimates of variable consideration. The Company's customers pay for products received in accordance with payment terms that are customary within the industry. The Company's contracts with its customers do not have significant financing components.

The Company records a contract liability for advances received from its customers. As of December 31, 2018, there were no significant contract liabilities recorded. Further, there were no significant contract liabilities recognized in revenue during the year ended December 31, 2018.

Amounts billed to customers related to shipping and handling costs are included in net sales in the consolidated statements of income. Shipping and handling costs are accounted for as fulfillment costs and are included in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of income.

Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction that are collected by the Company from a customer are excluded from revenue.

Cost of sales includes material, labor and overhead costs associated with the manufacture and distribution of the Company’s products. Distribution costs include inbound freight costs, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs and other costs of the Company’s distribution network.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses include selling, engineering and development and administrative costs not directly associated with the manufacture and distribution of the Company’s products.

Restructuring Costs

Restructuring costs include employee termination benefits, fixed asset impairment charges and contract termination costs, as well as other incremental costs resulting from the restructuring actions. These incremental costs principally include equipment and personnel relocation costs. In addition to restructuring costs, the Company also incurs incremental manufacturing inefficiency costs at the operating locations impacted by the restructuring actions during the related restructuring implementation period. Restructuring costs are recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP. Generally, charges are recorded as restructuring actions are approved and/or implemented.

Engineering and Development

Costs incurred in connection with product launches, to the extent not recoverable from the Company’s customers, are charged to cost of sales as incurred. All other engineering and development costs are charged to selling, general and administrative expenses when incurred.

Other (Income) Expense, Net

Other (income) expense, net includes non-income related taxes, foreign exchange gains and losses, gains and losses related to certain derivative instruments and hedging activities, losses on the extinguishment of debt, gains and losses on the disposal of fixed assets, the non-service cost components of net periodic benefit cost and other miscellaneous income and expense.

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and tax loss and credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

The Company’s current and future provision for income taxes is impacted by the initial recognition of and changes in valuation allowances in certain countries. The Company intends to maintain these allowances until it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized. The Company’s future provision for income taxes will include no tax benefit with respect to losses incurred and, except for certain jurisdictions, no tax expense with respect to income generated in these countries until the respective valuation allowances are eliminated. Accordingly, income taxes are impacted by changes in valuation allowances and the mix of earnings among jurisdictions. The Company evaluates the realizability of its deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis. In completing this evaluation, the Company considers all available evidence in order to determine whether, based on the weight of the evidence, a valuation allowance for its deferred tax assets is necessary. Such evidence includes historical results, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and expectations for future taxable income (exclusive of the reversal of temporary differences and carryforwards), as well as the implementation of feasible and prudent tax planning strategies. If, based on the weight of the evidence, it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the Company’s deferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance is recorded. If operating results improve or decline on a continual basis in a particular jurisdiction, the Company’s decision regarding the need for a valuation allowance could change, resulting in either the initial recognition or reversal of a valuation allowance in that jurisdiction, which could have a significant impact on income tax expense in the period recognized and subsequent periods. In determining the provision for income taxes for financial statement purposes, the Company makes certain estimates and judgments, which affect its evaluation of the carrying value of its deferred tax assets, as well as its calculation of certain tax liabilities.

The calculation of the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits and liabilities includes uncertainties in the application of, and changes in, complex tax regulations in a multitude of jurisdictions across its global operations. The Company recognizes tax benefits and liabilities based on its estimates of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due. The Company adjusts these benefits and liabilities based on changing facts and circumstances; however, due to the complexity of these uncertainties and the impact of tax audits, the ultimate resolutions may differ significantly from the Company’s estimates.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Act") was enacted on December 22, 2017. The Act reduces the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% beginning in 2018, requires companies to pay a one-time transition tax on all offshore earnings that were previously tax deferred and creates new taxes on certain foreign sourced earnings.

Provisional Amounts

In March 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2018-05, "Income Taxes - Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118" ("SAB 118"). The guidance provided for a provisional one-year measurement period for entities to finalize their accounting for certain tax effects related to the Act. In 2017 and during the first nine months of 2018, the Company recorded provisional amounts for certain enactment-date effects of the Act, for which the accounting had not been finalized, by applying the guidance in SAB 118. Accordingly, the Company completed its accounting for the effects of the Act in 2018 and recognized a net favorable adjustment to the 2017 provisional income tax expense of $5.3 million. The $5.3 million net tax benefit is comprised of a tax benefit of $15.1 million related to the one-time transition tax on offshore earnings, partially offset by a tax expense of $9.8 million related to the remeasurement of the December 31, 2017 deferred tax balances and numerous other items included in the Act.

Transition Tax on Deferred Foreign Earnings

The one-time transition tax is based on the Company’s post-1986 earnings and profits ("E&P") of its foreign subsidiaries, for which U.S. income taxes were previously deferred. The transition tax is based, in part, on the amount of E&P held in cash and other specified assets. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the provision for income taxes included provisional income tax expense of $131.0 million related to the one-time transition tax liability. In 2018, the Company completed its calculation of the post-1986 E&P and related foreign taxes of its foreign subsidiaries, as well as the classification of the E&P as cash or non-cash. Based on the completed calculation and consideration of proposed regulations and other guidance issued during 2018, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $15.1 million in 2018, reducing the one-time transition tax to $115.9 million.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities

In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company remeasured its U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities to reflect the effects of the Act, including the reduction in the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% beginning in 2018. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the provision for income taxes included provisional income tax expense of $42.5 million related to the remeasurement of deferred tax balances. In 2018, the Company finalized its analysis of certain aspects of the Act and refined its calculations. Based on the completed analysis and calculations and consideration of proposed regulations and other guidance issued during 2018, the Company recorded tax expense of $9.8 million, increasing the tax expense related to the remeasurement of deferred tax balances to $52.3 million.

Global Intangible Low-Tax Income ("GILTI")

The Act created a provision known as global intangible low-tax income ("GILTI") that imposes a U.S. tax on certain earnings of foreign subsidiaries that are subject to foreign tax below a certain threshold. The Company has made an accounting policy election to reflect GILTI taxes, if any, as a current income tax expense in the period incurred.

Foreign Currency

Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries that use a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the foreign exchange rates in effect at the end of the period. Revenues and expenses of foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using an average of the foreign exchange rates in effect during the period. Translation adjustments that arise from translating a foreign subsidiary’s financial statements from the functional currency to the U.S. dollar are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the consolidated balance sheets.

Transaction gains and losses that arise from foreign exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency, except certain long-term intercompany transactions, are included in the consolidated statements of income as incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures stock-based employee compensation expense at fair value in accordance with GAAP and recognizes such expense over the vesting period of the stock-based employee awards.

Net Income Per Share Attributable to Lear

Basic net income per share available to Lear common stockholders is computed using the two-class method by dividing net income attributable to Lear, after deducting the redemption adjustment related to redeemable noncontrolling interest, by the average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Common shares issuable upon the satisfaction of certain conditions pursuant to a contractual agreement are considered common shares outstanding and are included in the computation of basic net income per share available to Lear common stockholders.

Diluted net income per share available to Lear common stockholders is computed using the two-class method by dividing net income attributable to Lear, after deducting the redemption adjustment related to redeemable noncontrolling interest, by the average number of common shares outstanding, including the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents computed using the treasury stock method and the average share price during the period.

Product Warranty

Losses from warranty obligations are accrued when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the related amounts are reasonably estimable.

Segment Reporting

The Company has two reportable operating segments: Seating, which includes complete seat systems and all major seat components, including seat covers and surface materials such as leather and fabric, seat structures and mechanisms, seat foam and headrests, and E-Systems, which includes complete electrical distribution systems, as well as sophisticated electronic control modules, electrification products and connectivity products. Key components in the Company's electrical distribution portfolio include wire harnesses, terminals and connectors and junction boxes for both internal combustion engine and electrification architectures that require management of higher voltage and power. Key components in the Company's electronic control module portfolio include body control modules, wireless receiver and transmitter technology and lighting and audio control modules, as well as portfolios specific to electrification and connectivity trends. Electrification products include charging systems (onboard charging modules, cord set charging equipment and wireless charging systems), battery electronics (battery disconnect units, cell monitoring supervisory systems and integrated total battery control modules) and other power management modules, including converter and inverter systems. Connectivity products include gateway modules, connected gateways and independent communication modules to manage both wired and wireless networks and data in vehicles. The other category includes unallocated costs related to corporate headquarters, regional headquarters and the elimination of intercompany activities, none of which meets the requirements for being classified as an operating segment. Corporate and regional headquarters costs include various support functions, such as information technology, corporate finance, legal, executive administration and human resources, as well as advanced engineering expenses.

Each of the Company’s operating segments reports its results from operations and makes its requests for capital expenditures directly to the chief operating decision maker. The economic performance of each operating segment is driven primarily by automotive production volumes in the geographic regions in which it operates, as well as by the success of the vehicle platforms for which it supplies products. Also, each operating segment operates in the competitive Tier 1 automotive supplier environment and is continually working with its customers to manage costs and improve quality. The Company’s production processes generally make use of hourly labor, dedicated facilities, sequential manufacturing and assembly processes and commodity raw materials.

The Company evaluates the performance of its operating segments based primarily on (i) revenues from external customers, (ii) pretax income before equity in net income of affiliates, interest expense and other expense ("segment earnings") and (iii) cash flows, being defined as segment earnings less capital expenditures plus depreciation and amortization.

The accounting policies of the Company’s operating segments are the same as those described in this note to the consolidated financial statements.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company has used derivative financial instruments, including forwards, futures, options, swaps and other derivative contracts, to reduce the effects of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and interest rates and the resulting variability of the Company’s operating results. The Company is not a party to leveraged derivatives. The Company’s derivative financial instruments are subject to master netting arrangements that provide for the net settlement of contracts, by counterparty, in the event of default or termination. On the date that a derivative contract for a hedging instrument is entered into, the Company designates the derivative as either (1) a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment (a fair value hedge), (2) a hedge of the exposure of a forecasted transaction or of the variability in the cash flows of a recognized asset or liability (a cash flow hedge), (3) a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation (a net investment hedge) or (4) a contract not designated as a hedging instrument.

For a fair value hedge, the change in the fair value of the derivative is recorded in earnings and reflected in the consolidated statement of income on the same line as the gain or loss on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk. For a cash flow hedge, the change in the fair value of the derivative is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the consolidated balance sheet. When the underlying hedged transaction is realized, the gain or loss included in accumulated other comprehensive loss is recorded in earnings and reflected in the consolidated statement of income on the same line as the gain or loss on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk. For a net investment hedge, the change in the fair value of the derivative is recorded in cumulative translation adjustment, which is a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in the consolidated balance sheet. Changes in the fair value of contracts not designated as hedging instruments are recorded in earnings and reflected in the consolidated statements of income as other (income) expense, net.

The Company formally documents its hedge relationships, including the identification of the hedging instruments and the related hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge transaction. Derivatives are recorded at fair value in other current and long-term assets and other current and long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. The Company also formally assesses whether a derivative used in a hedging transaction is highly effective in offsetting changes in either the fair value or the cash flows of the hedged item. When it is determined that a hedged transaction is no longer probable to occur, the Company discontinues hedge accounting.

On January 1, 2018, the Company early adopted ASU 2017-12, "Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities." The new standard eliminates the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness, due to a difference between the economic terms of the hedge instrument and the underlying transaction, and generally requires, for qualifying hedges, the entire change in the fair value of a hedging instrument to be presented in the same line as the hedged item in the consolidated statement of income. The standard also modifies the accounting for components excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness and simplifies the application of hedge accounting in certain situations. The provisions of the standard were applied on a modified retrospective basis, and the effects of adoption were not significant.

The Company determines the fair value of its derivative contracts using quoted market prices to calculate the forward values and then discounts such forward values to the present value. The discount rates used are based on quoted bank deposit or swap interest rates. If a derivative contract is in a net liability position, the Company adjusts these discount rates, if required, by an estimate of the credit spread that would be applied by market participants purchasing these contracts from the Company’s counterparties. If an estimate of the credit spread is required, the Company uses significant assumptions and factors other than quoted market rates, which would result in the classification of its derivative liabilities within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

The Company uses forwards, swaps and other derivative contracts to reduce the effects of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates on known foreign currency exposures. Gains and losses on the derivative instruments are intended to offset gains and losses on the hedged transaction in an effort to reduce exposure to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. The principal currencies hedged by the Company include the Mexican peso, various European currencies, the Thai baht, the Chinese renminbi, the Japanese yen and the Philippine peso.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. During 2018, there were no material changes in the methods or policies used to establish estimates and assumptions. Other matters subject to estimation and judgment include amounts related to accounts receivable realization, inventory obsolescence, asset impairments, useful lives of fixed and intangible assets and unsettled pricing discussions with customers and suppliers (Note 2, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies"); acquisitions (Note 3, "Acquisitions"); restructuring accruals (Note 4, "Restructuring"); deferred tax asset valuation allowances and income taxes (Note 7, "Income Taxes"); pension and other postretirement benefit plan assumptions (Note 8, "Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans"); accruals related to litigation, warranty and environmental remediation costs (Note 12, "Commitments and Contingencies"); and self-insurance accruals. Actual results may differ significantly from the Company’s estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in prior years’ financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the presentation used in the year ended December 31, 2018.

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

The Company has noncontributory defined benefit pension plans covering certain domestic employees and certain employees in foreign countries, principally Canada. The Company’s salaried pension plans provide benefits based on final average earnings formulas. The Company’s hourly pension plans provide benefits under flat benefit and cash balance formulas. The Company also has contractual arrangements with certain employees which provide for supplemental retirement benefits. In general, the Company’s policy is to fund its pension benefit obligation based on legal requirements, tax and liquidity considerations and local practices.

The Company has postretirement benefit plans covering certain domestic and Canadian employees. The Company’s postretirement benefit plans generally provide for the continuation of medical benefits for all eligible employees who complete a specified number of years of service and retire from the Company at age 55 or older. The Company does not fund its postretirement benefit obligation. Rather, payments are made as costs are incurred by covered retirees.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is defined as all changes in the Company’s net assets except changes resulting from transactions with stockholders. It differs from net income in that certain items recorded in equity are included in comprehensive income.

Marketable Equity Securities

Unrealized gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of the marketable equity securities are recognized in other (income) expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. The fair value of the marketable equity securities is determined by reference to quoted market prices in active markets (Level 1 input based on the GAAP fair value hierarchy).

Fair Value Measurements

The carrying values of the Notes vary from their fair values. The fair values of the Notes were determined by reference to the quoted market prices of these securities (Level 2 input based on the GAAP fair value hierarchy). The carrying value of the Company’s Term Loan Facility approximates its fair value (Level 3 input based on the GAAP fair value hierarchy).

GAAP provides that fair value is an exit price, defined as a market-based measurement that represents the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value measurements are based on one or more of the following three valuation techniques:



Market:		This approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities.

Income:		This approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts to a single present value amount based on current market expectations.

Cost:		This approach is based on the amount that would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset (replacement cost).

Further, GAAP prioritizes the inputs and assumptions used in the valuation techniques described above into a three-tier fair value hierarchy as follows:



Level 1:		Observable inputs, such as quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date.

Level 2:		Inputs, other than quoted market prices included in Level 1, that are observable either directly or indirectly for the asset or liability.

Level 3:		Unobservable inputs that reflect the entity’s own assumptions about the exit price of the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs may be used if there is little or no market data for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

The Company discloses fair value measurements and the related valuation techniques and fair value hierarchy level for its assets and liabilities that are measured or disclosed at fair value.

Accounting Pronouncements

Standards Adopted in 2018

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the ASUs summarized below:



Standards Adopted	Description	Effective Date
ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers	The standard replaces existing revenue recognition guidance and requires additional financial statement disclosures. See Note 2, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies," and Note 9, "Revenue Recognition."	January 1, 2018
ASU 2016-01 and ASU 2018-03, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities	The standard requires equity investments and other ownership interests in unconsolidated entities (other than those accounted for using the equity method of accounting) to be measured at fair value through earnings. A practicability exception exists for equity investments without readily determinable fair values. The effects of adoption were not significant.	January 1, 2018
ASU 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments	The standard addresses the classification of cash flows related to various transactions, including debt prepayment and extinguishment costs, contingent consideration and proceeds from insurance claims. The effects of adoption were not significant.	January 1, 2018
ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes - Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory	The standard requires the recognition of the income tax effects of intercompany sales and transfers (other than inventory) in the period in which the sale or transfer occur. See Note 7, "Income Taxes."	January 1, 2018
ASU 2016-18, Restricted Cash	The standard provides guidance on the presentation of restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. See Note 14, "Financial Instruments."	January 1, 2018
ASU 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business	The standard provides a new framework to use when determining if a set of assets and activities is a business. The effects of adoption were not significant.	January 1, 2018
ASU 2017-05, Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets	The standard provides guidance for recognizing gains and losses on nonfinancial assets (including land, buildings and intangible assets) to noncustomers. Adoption must coincide with ASU 2014-09. The effects of adoption were not significant.	January 1, 2018
ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost	The standard was issued to address the net presentation of the components of net benefit cost. The standard requires that service cost be presented in the same line item as other current employee compensation costs and that the remaining components of net benefit cost be presented in a separate line item outside of any subtotal for income from operations. See Note 8, "Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans."	January 1, 2018
ASU 2017-09, Stock Compensation - Scope of Modification Accounting	The standard provides guidance intended to reduce diversity in practice when accounting for a modification to the terms and conditions of a share-based payment award. The effects of adoption were not significant.	January 1, 2018
ASU 2017-12, Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities	The standard contains changes intended to better portray the economic results of hedging activities, as well as targeted improvements to simplify hedge accounting. The Company elected to early adopt the standard effective January 1, 2018. See Note 14, "Financial Instruments."	January 1, 2018
ASU 2018-05, Income Taxes - Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118	The standard provides guidance for companies that may not have completed their accounting for the income tax effects of the Act in the period of enactment. See Note 7, "Income Taxes."	January 1, 2018

Standards Effective After 2018

Leasing

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases." The standard requires lessees to record right-of-use assets and corresponding liabilities on the balance sheet, as well as disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The Company has elected the package of practical expedients, excluding the lease term hindsight, as permitted by the transition guidance. The Company has made an accounting policy election to exempt leases with an initial term of twelve months or less from balance sheet recognition. Instead, short-term leases will be expensed over the lease term.

The Company will adopt the standard January 1, 2019, by applying the modified retrospective method without restatement of comparative periods' financial information, as permitted by the transition guidance. The impact of adoption will result in the recognition of right-of-use assets estimated in the range of $415 million to $465 million, with corresponding lease liabilities of the same amount. The standard will not have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations and cash flows.

For additional information on the Company’s operating lease commitments, see Note 12, "Commitments and Contingencies."

Other Standards Effective After 2018

The Company has considered the ASUs summarized below, effective after 2018, none of which are expected to significantly impact its financial statements:



Standards Pending Adoption	Description	Effective Date
ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	The standard allows for the reclassification of "stranded" tax effects as a result of the Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings.	January 1, 2019
ASU 2018-07, Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting	The standard aligns measurement and classification guidance for share-based payments to nonemployees with the guidance applicable to employees. Under the new guidance, the measurement of equity-classified nonemployee awards will be fixed at the grant date.	January 1, 2019
ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments	The standard changes the impairment model for most financial instruments to an "expected loss" model. The new model will generally result in earlier recognition of credit losses.	January 1, 2020
ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment	The standard simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairments and allows a goodwill impairment charge to be based on the amount of a reporting unit's carrying value in excess of its fair value. This eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill or what is known as "Step 2" under the current guidance.	January 1, 2020
ASU 2018-13, Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement	The standard eliminates certain fair value disclosures while requiring additional disclosures related to the development of inputs for level 3 of the fair value hierarchy and for entities that use the practical expedient to measure the fair value of certain investments at net asset value.	January 1, 2020
ASU 2018-15. Customer's Accounting for Implementation Cost Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract	The standard requires implementation costs in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract to be capitalized and amortized over the non-cancellable term of the contract and any renewals that are reasonably certain.	January 1, 2020
ASU 2018-17, Related Party Guidance for Variable Interest Entities	The standard changes how entities evaluate decision making fees under the variable interest guidance.	January 1, 2020
ASU 2018-18, Collaborative Arrangements	The standard requires certain transactions between participants in a collaborative arrangement to be accounted for as revenue under the new revenue standard when the participant is a customer.	January 1, 2020
ASU 2018-14, Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans	The standard requires specific disclosures for defined benefit plans, including the weighted average interest credit rate for cash balance plans and reasons for significant gains and losses affecting the benefit obligation and plan assets. The standard also eliminates certain other disclosures.	January 1, 2021