Financial Statement Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

The prior period condensed consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Q”) have been reclassified to reflect the businesses classified as discontinued operations as discussed in Note 16—Discontinued Operations. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to comply with newly adopted accounting standards. See further detail in the new accounting pronouncements discussion.

Consolidation — In this Quarterly Report the terms “AES,” “the Company,” “us” or “we” refer to the consolidated entity, including its subsidiaries and affiliates. The terms “The AES Corporation” or “the Parent Company” refer only to the publicly held holding company, The AES Corporation, excluding its subsidiaries and affiliates. Furthermore, VIEs in which the Company has a variable interest have been consolidated where the Company is the primary beneficiary. Investments in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Interim Financial Presentation — The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and footnotes have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, as contained in the FASB ASC, for interim financial information and Article 10 of Regulation S-X issued by the SEC. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for annual fiscal reporting periods. In the opinion of management, the interim financial information includes all adjustments of a normal recurring nature necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations, financial position, comprehensive income, and cash flows. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, are not necessarily indicative of expected results for the year ending December 31, 2018. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the 2017 audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, which are included in the 2017 Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 26, 2018 (the “2017 Form 10-K”).

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash — The following table provides a summary of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash amounts reported on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet that reconcile to the total of such amounts as shown on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in millions):



	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,187	$	949
Restricted cash	441		274
Debt service reserves and other deposits	494		565
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash	$	2,122	$	1,788

New Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in 2018 — The following table provides a brief description of recent accounting pronouncements that had an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Accounting pronouncements not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.



New Accounting Standards Adopted
ASU Number and Name	Description	Date of Adoption	Effect on the financial statements upon adoption
2017-07, Compensation — Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost	This standard changes the presentation of non-service costs associated with defined benefit plans and updates the guidance so that only the service cost component will be eligible for capitalization. Transition method: retrospective for presentation of non-service cost and prospective for the change in capitalization.	January 1, 2018	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, $2 million and $1 million of gains primarily related to the expected return on plan assets were reclassified from Costs of Sales to Other Expense, respectively.
2017-05, Other Income — Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Topic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets	This standard clarifies the scope and application of ASC 610-20 on the sale, transfer, and derecognition of nonfinancial assets and in substance nonfinancial assets to non-customers, including partial sales. It also provides guidance on how gains and losses on transfers of nonfinancial assets and in substance nonfinancial assets to non-customers are recognized. The standard also clarifies that the derecognition of businesses is under the scope of ASC 810. The standard must be adopted concurrently with ASC 606, however an entity will not have to apply the same transition method as ASC 606. Transition method: modified retrospective.	January 1, 2018	As more transactions will not meet the definition of a business due to the adoption of ASU 2017-01, more dispositions or partial sales will be out of the scope of ASC 810 and will be under this standard.



2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business	The standard requires an entity to first evaluate whether substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets, and if that threshold is met, the set is not a business. As a second step, at least one substantive process should exist to be considered a business. Transition method: prospective.	January 1, 2018	Some acquisitions and dispositions will now fall under a different accounting model. This will reduce the number of transactions that are accounted for as business combinations and therefore future acquired goodwill.
2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)	This standard requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should 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. Transition method: retrospective.	January 1, 2018	For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, cash provided by operating activities increased by $12 million, cash used in investing activities decreased by $327 million, and cash provided by financing activities was unchanged.
2016-01, Financial Instruments — Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities	The standard significantly revises an entity’s accounting related to (1) classification and measurement of investments in equity securities and (2) the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. It also amends certain disclosures of financial instruments. Transition method: modified retrospective. Prospective for equity investments without readily determinable fair value.	January 1, 2018	No material impact upon adoption of the standard.
2014-09, 2015-14, 2016-08, 2016-10, 2016-12, 2016-20, 2017-10, 2017-13, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)	See discussion of the ASU below.	January 1, 2018	See impact upon adoption of the standard below.

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," and its subsequent corresponding updates ("ASC 606"). Under this standard, an entity shall recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company applied the modified retrospective method of adoption to the contracts that were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning January 1, 2018 are presented under ASC 606, while prior period amounts were not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the previous revenue recognition standard. For contracts that were modified before January 1, 2018, the Company reflected the aggregate effect of all modifications when identifying the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations, determining the transaction price and allocating the transaction price.

The cumulative effect to our January 1, 2018 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet resulting from the adoption of ASC 606 was as follows (in millions):



Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	Balance at December 31, 2017			Adjustments Due to ASC 606			Balance at January 1, 2018
Assets
Other current assets	$	630		$	61		$	691
Deferred income taxes	130			(24		)	106
Service concession assets, net	1,360			(1,360		)	—
Loan receivable	—			1,490			1,490
Equity
Accumulated deficit	(2,276		)	67			(2,209		)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,876		)	19			(1,857		)
Noncontrolling interest	2,380			81			2,461

The Mong Duong II power plant in Vietnam is the primary driver of changes in revenue recognition under the new standard. This plant is operated under a build, operate, and transfer contract and will be transferred to the Vietnamese government after the completion of a 25-year PPA. Under the previous revenue recognition standard, construction costs were deferred to a service concession asset, which was expensed in proportion to revenue recognized for the construction element over the term of the PPA. Under ASC 606, construction revenue and associated costs are recognized as construction activity occurs. As construction of the plant was substantially completed in 2015, revenues and costs associated with the construction were recognized through retained earnings, and the service concession asset was derecognized. A loan receivable was recognized for the future expected payments for the construction performance obligation. As the payments for the construction performance obligation occur over a 25-year term, a significant financing element was determined to exist which is accounted for

under the effective interest rate method. The other performance obligation to operate and maintain the facility is measured based on the capacity made available.

The impact to our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2018 resulting from the adoption of ASC 606 as compared to the previous revenue recognition standard was as follows (in millions):



	September 30, 2018
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	As Reported			Balances Without Adoption of ASC 606			Adoption Impact
Assets
Other current assets	$	706		$	641		$	65
Deferred income taxes	88			112			(24		)
Service concession assets, net	—			1,287			(1,287		)
Loan receivable	1,441			—			1,441
TOTAL ASSETS	32,489			32,294			195
Equity
Accumulated deficit	(1,133		)	(1,231		)	98
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,020		)	(2,038		)	18
Noncontrolling interest	2,404			2,325			79
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	32,489			32,294			195

The impact to our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three and six months ended September 30, 2018 resulting from the adoption of ASC 606 as compared to the previous revenue recognition standard was as follows (in millions):



	Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations	As Reported			Balances Without Adoption of ASC 606			Adoption Impact
Total revenue	$	2,837		$	2,855		$	(18	)
Total cost of sales	(2,166		)	(2,180		)	14
Operating margin	671			675			(4		)
Interest income	79			64			15
Income from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	332			321			11
Income tax expense	(146		)	(147		)	1
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	192			180			12
NET INCOME	191			179			12
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	101			89			12



	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations	As Reported			Balances Without Adoption of ASC 606			Adoption Impact
Total revenue	$	8,114		$	8,168		$	(54	)
Total cost of sales	(6,187		)	(6,227		)	40
Operating margin	1,927			1,941			(14		)
Interest income	231			186			45
Income from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	1,672			1,641			31
Income tax expense	(509		)	(509		)	—
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	1,194			1,163			31
NET INCOME	1,384			1,353			31
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	1,075			1,044			31

New Accounting Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Effective — The following table provides a brief description of recent accounting pronouncements that could have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements once adopted. Accounting pronouncements not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.



New Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Effective
ASU Number and Name	Description	Date of Adoption	Effect on the financial statements upon adoption
2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract	This standard aligns the accounting for implementation costs incurred for a cloud computing arrangement that is a service with the requirement for capitalizing implementation costs associated with developing or obtaining internal-use software. Transition method: retrospective or prospective.	January 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted.	The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the standard on its consolidated financial statements.
2018-02, Income Statement — Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from AOCI	This amendment allows a reclassification of the stranded tax effects resulting from the implementation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from AOCI to retained earnings. Because this amendment only relates to the reclassification of the income tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the underlying guidance that requires that the effect of a change in tax laws or rates be included in income from continuing operations is not affected.	January 1, 2019. Early adoption is permitted.	The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the standard on its consolidated financial statements.
2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities	The standard updates the hedge accounting model to expand the ability to hedge nonfinancial and financial risk components, reduce complexity, and ease certain documentation and assessment requirements. When facts and circumstances are the same as at the previous quantitative test, a subsequent quantitative effectiveness test is not required. The standard also eliminates the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness. For cash flow hedges, this means that the entire change in the fair value of a hedging instrument will be recorded in other comprehensive income and amounts deferred will be reclassified to earnings in the same income statement line as the hedged item. Transition method: modified retrospective with the cumulative effect adjustment recorded to the opening balance of retained earnings as of the initial application date. Prospective for presentation and disclosures.	January 1, 2019. Early adoption is permitted.	The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the standard on its consolidated financial statements.
2017-11, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260); Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480); Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests	Part 1 of this standard changes the classification of certain equity-linked financial instruments when assessing whether the instrument is indexed to an entity’s own stock. Transition method: retrospective.	January 1, 2019. Early adoption is permitted.	The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the standard on its consolidated financial statements.
2017-08, Receivables — Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities	This standard shortens the period of amortization for the premium on certain callable debt securities to the earliest call date. Transition method: modified retrospective.	January 1, 2019. Early adoption is permitted.	The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the standard on its consolidated financial statements.
2017-04, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment	This standard simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment by removing the requirement to calculate the implied fair value. Instead, it requires that an entity records an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit's carrying amount over its fair value. Transition method: prospective.	January 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted.	The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the standard on its consolidated financial statements.
2016-13, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments	The standard updates the impairment model for financial assets measured at amortized cost. For trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and other instruments, entities will be required to use a new forward-looking "expected loss" model that generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowance for losses. For available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses, entities will measure credit losses as it is done today, except that the losses will be recognized as an allowance rather than a reduction in the amortized cost of the securities. Transition method: various.	January 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted only as of January 1, 2019.	The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the standard on its consolidated financial statements.
2016-02, 2018-01, 2018-10, 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842)	See discussion of the ASU below.	January 1, 2019. Early adoption is permitted.	The Company will adopt the standard on January 1, 2019; see below for the evaluation of the impact of its adoption on the consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2016-02 and its subsequent corresponding updates will require lessees to recognize assets and liabilities for most leases, and recognize expenses in a manner similar to the current accounting method. For lessors, the guidance modifies the lease classification criteria and the accounting for sales-type and direct financing leases. The guidance also eliminates the current real estate-specific provisions.

The standard must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements (January 1, 2017). The FASB amended the standard to add an optional transition method that allows entities to continue to apply the guidance in ASC 840 Leases in the comparative periods presented in the year they adopt the new lease standard. Under this transition method, the Company will apply the transition provisions on January 1, 2019. At transition, lessees and lessors are permitted to make an election to apply a package of practical expedients that allow them not to reassess: (1) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, (2) lease classification for any expired or existing leases, and (3) whether initial direct costs for any expired or existing leases qualify for capitalization under ASC 842. These three practical expedients must be elected as a package and must be consistently applied to all leases. Furthermore, entities are also permitted to make an election to use hindsight when determining lease term and lessees can elect to use hindsight when assessing the impairment of right-of-use assets.

The Company has established a task force focused on the identification of contracts that would be under the scope of the new standard and on the assessment and measurement of the right-of-use asset and related liability. Additionally, the implementation team has been working on the configuration of a lease accounting tool that will support the implementation and the subsequent accounting. The implementation of this tool is in the latest phase and it is expected to be completed by the effective date. The implementation team is also in the process of evaluating changes to our business processes, systems and controls to support recognition and disclosure under the new standard.

The Company has preliminarily concluded that it will use the package of practical expedients at transition. The main impact expected as of the effective date is the recognition of right-of-use assets and related liabilities for all contracts that contain a lease and for which the Company is the lessee. However, the income statement presentation and the expense recognition pattern are not expected to change.

Under ASC 842, it is expected that fewer contracts will contain a lease. However, due to the elimination of today's real estate-specific guidance and changes to certain lessor classification criteria, more leases will qualify as sales-type leases and direct financing leases. Under these two models, a lessor will derecognize the asset and will recognize a lease receivable. According to ASC 842, the lease receivable does not include variable payments that depend on the use of the asset (e.g. Mwh produced by a facility). Therefore, the lease receivable could be lower than the carrying amount of the underlying asset at lease commencement. In such circumstances, the difference between the initially recognized lease receivable and the carrying amount of the underlying asset is recognized as a loss at lease commencement. The Company is assessing how this guidance will apply to new renewable contracts executed or modified after the effective date where all the payments are contingent on the level of production and is also evaluating the related impact to the allocation of earnings under HLBV accounting.