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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | 2.SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES These consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). Amounts are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted. As a Securities and Exchange Commission registrant, the Company is permitted to use U.S. GAAP for purposes of meeting both its Canadian and United States continuous disclosure requirements. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND USE OF ESTIMATES The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, as well as the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements. Significant estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to: carrying values of regulatory assets and liabilities (Note 5); unbilled revenues (Note 7); allowance for doubtful accounts (Note 7); depreciation rates and carrying value of property, plant and equipment (Note 9); amortization rates of intangible assets (Note 14); measurement of goodwill (Note 15); fair value of asset retirement obligations (ARO) (Note 19); valuation of stock-based compensation (Note 22); fair value of financial instruments (Note 24); provisions for income taxes (Note 25); assumptions used to measure retirement and other postretirement benefit obligations (OPEB) (Note 26); commitments and contingencies (Note 31); and estimates of losses related to environmental remediation obligations (Note 31). Actual results could differ from these estimates. PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Enbridge, its subsidiaries and variable interest entities (VIEs) for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Upon inception of a contractual agreement, the Company performs an assessment to determine whether the arrangement contains a variable interest in a legal entity and whether that legal entity is a VIE. Where the Company concludes it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the Company will consolidate the accounts of that entity. The consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of any limited partnerships where the Company represents the general partner and, based on all facts and circumstances, controls such limited partnerships, unless the limited partner has substantive participating rights or substantive kick-out rights. For certain investments where the Company retains an undivided interest in assets and liabilities, Enbridge records its proportionate share of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated upon consolidation. Ownership interests in subsidiaries represented by other parties that do not control the entity are presented in the consolidated financial statements as activities and balances attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests. Investments and entities over which the Company exercises significant influence are accounted for using the equity method. As a result of the Canadian Restructuring Plan, ECT, a subsidiary of the Company, determines its equity investment earnings from EIPLP using the Hypothetical Liquidation at Book Value (HLBV) method. ECT applies the HLBV method to its equity method investments where cash distributions, including both preference and residual distributions, are not based on the investor’s ownership percentages. Under the HLBV method, a calculation is prepared at each balance sheet date to determine the amount that ECT would receive if EIPLP were to liquidate all of its assets, as valued in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and distribute that cash to the investors. The difference between the calculated liquidation distribution amounts at the beginning and the end of the reporting period, after adjusting for capital contributions and distributions, is ECT’s share of the earnings or losses from the equity investment for the period. While ECT and EIPLP are both consolidated in these financial statements, the use of the HLBV method by ECT impacts the earnings attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests reported on Enbridge’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The Company continues to recognize Redeemable noncontrolling interests on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at the maximum redemption value of the trust units held by third parties, which references the market price of ENF common shares. REGULATION Certain of the Company’s businesses are subject to regulation by various authorities including, but not limited to, the National Energy Board (NEB), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Alberta Energy Regulator, the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) and the Ontario Energy Board (OEB). Regulatory bodies exercise statutory authority over matters such as construction, rates and ratemaking and agreements with customers. To recognize the economic effects of the actions of the regulator, the timing of recognition of certain revenues and expenses in these operations may differ from that otherwise expected under U.S. GAAP for non rate-regulated entities. Regulatory assets represent amounts that are expected to be recovered from customers in future periods through rates. Regulatory liabilities represent amounts that are expected to be refunded to customers in future periods through rates or expected to be paid to cover future abandonment costs in relation to the NEB’s Land Matters Consultation Initiative (LMCI). Long-term regulatory assets are recorded in Deferred amounts and other assets and current regulatory assets are recorded in Accounts receivable and other. Long-term regulatory liabilities are included in Other long-term liabilities and current regulatory liabilities are recorded in Accounts payable and other. Regulatory assets are assessed for impairment if the Company identifies an event indicative of possible impairment. The recognition of regulatory assets and liabilities is based on the actions, or expected future actions, of the regulator. To the extent that the regulator’s actions differ from the Company’s expectations, the timing and amount of recovery or settlement of regulatory balances could differ significantly from those recorded. In the absence of rate regulation, the Company would generally not recognize regulatory assets or liabilities and the earnings impact would be recorded in the period the expenses are incurred or revenues are earned. A regulatory asset or liability is recognized in respect of deferred income taxes when it is expected the amounts will be recovered or settled through future regulator-approved rates. Allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC) is included in the cost of property, plant and equipment and is depreciated over future periods as part of the total cost of the related asset. AFUDC includes both an interest component and, if approved by the regulator, a cost of equity component, which are both capitalized based on rates set out in a regulatory agreement. In the absence of rate regulation, the Company would capitalize interest using a capitalization rate based on its cost of borrowing, whereas the capitalized equity component, the corresponding earnings during the construction phase and the subsequent depreciation would not be recognized. For certain regulated operations to which U.S. GAAP guidance for phase-in plans applies, negotiated depreciation rates recovered in transportation tolls may be less than the depreciation expense calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP in early years of long-term contracts but recovered in future periods when tolls exceed depreciation. Depreciation expense on such assets is recorded in accordance with U.S. GAAP and no deferred regulatory asset is recorded (Note 5). With the approval of the regulator, EGD and certain distribution operations capitalize a percentage of specified operating costs. These operations are authorized to charge depreciation and earn a return on the net book value of such capitalized costs in future years. To the extent that the regulator’s actions differ from the Company’s expectations, the timing and amount of recovery or settlement of capitalized costs could differ significantly from those recorded. In the absence of rate regulation, a portion of such costs may be charged to current period earnings. REVENUE RECOGNITION For businesses that are not rate-regulated, revenues are recorded when products have been delivered or services have been performed, the amount of revenue can be reliably measured and collectability is reasonably assured. Customer credit worthiness is assessed prior to agreement signing, as well as throughout the contract duration. Certain revenues from liquids and gas pipeline businesses are recognized under the terms of committed delivery contracts rather than the cash tolls received. Long-term take-or-pay contracts, under which shippers are obligated to pay fixed amounts rateably over the contract period regardless of volumes shipped, may contain make-up rights. Make-up rights are earned by shippers when minimum volume commitments are not utilized during the period but under certain circumstances can be used to offset overages in future periods, subject to expiry periods. The Company recognizes revenues associated with make-up rights at the earlier of when the make-up volume is shipped, the make-up right expires or when it is determined that the likelihood that the shipper will utilize the make-up right is remote. Certain offshore pipeline transportation contracts require the Company to provide transportation services for the life of the underlying producing fields. Under these arrangements, shippers pay the Company a fixed monthly toll for a defined period of time which may be shorter than the estimated reserve life of the underlying producing fields, resulting in a contract period which extends past the period of cash collection. Fixed monthly toll revenues are recognized rateably over the committed volume made available to shippers throughout the contract period, regardless of when cash is received. For rate-regulated businesses, revenues are recognized in a manner that is consistent with the underlying agreements as approved by the regulators. Since July 1, 2011 onward, Canadian Mainline (excluding Lines 8 and 9) earnings are governed by the Competitive Toll Settlement (CTS), under which revenues are recorded when services are performed. Effective on that date, the Company prospectively discontinued the application of rate-regulated accounting for those assets with the exception of flow-through income taxes covered by a specific rate order. For natural gas utility rate-regulated operations in Gas Distribution, revenues are recognized in a manner consistent with the underlying rate-setting mechanism as mandated by the regulator. Natural gas utilities revenues are recorded on the basis of regular meter readings and estimates of customer usage from the last meter reading to the end of the reporting period. Estimates are based on historical consumption patterns and heating degree days experienced. Heating degree days is a measure of coldness that is indicative of volumetric requirements for natural gas utilized for heating purposes in the Company’s distribution franchise area. For natural gas and marketing businesses, an estimate of revenues and commodity costs for the month of December is included in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings for each year based on the best available volume and price data for the commodity delivered and received. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING Non-qualifying Derivatives Non-qualifying derivative instruments are used primarily to economically hedge foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity price earnings exposure. Non-qualifying derivatives are measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings in Transportation and other services revenues, Commodity costs, Operating and administrative expense, Other income/(expense) and Interest expense. Derivatives in Qualifying Hedging Relationships The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange rates, interest rates and certain compensation tied to its share price. Hedge accounting is optional and requires the Company to document the hedging relationship and test the hedging item’s effectiveness in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of the underlying hedged item on an ongoing basis. The Company presents the earnings effects of hedging items with the hedged transaction. Derivatives in qualifying hedging relationships are categorized as cash flow hedges, fair value hedges and net investment hedges. Cash Flow Hedges The Company uses cash flow hedges to manage its exposure to changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange rates, interest rates and certain compensation tied to its share price. The effective portion of the change in the fair value of a cash flow hedging instrument is recorded in Other comprehensive income/(loss) (OCI) and is reclassified to earnings when the hedged item impacts earnings. Any hedge ineffectiveness is recorded in current period earnings. If a derivative instrument designated as a cash flow hedge ceases to be effective or is terminated, hedge accounting is discontinued and the gain or loss at that date is deferred in OCI and recognized concurrently with the related transaction. If a hedged anticipated transaction is no longer probable, the gain or loss is recognized immediately in earnings. Subsequent gains and losses from derivative instruments for which hedge accounting has been discontinued are recognized in earnings in the period in which they occur. Fair Value Hedges The Company may use fair value hedges to hedge the fair value of debt instruments or commodity positions. The change in the fair value of the hedging instrument is recorded in earnings with changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that is designated as part of the hedging relationship. If a fair value hedge is discontinued or ceases to be effective, the hedged asset or liability, otherwise required to be carried at cost or amortized cost, ceases to be remeasured at fair value and the cumulative fair value adjustment to the carrying value of the hedged item is recognized in earnings over the remaining life of the hedged item. Net Investment Hedges Gains and losses arising from translation of net investment in foreign operations from their functional currencies to the Company’s Canadian dollar presentation currency are included in cumulative translation adjustments (CTA). The Company designates foreign currency derivatives and United States dollar denominated debt as hedges of net investments in United States dollar denominated foreign operations. As a result, the effective portion of the change in the fair value of the foreign currency derivatives as well as the translation of United States dollar denominated debt are reflected in OCI and any ineffectiveness is reflected in current period earnings. Amounts recognized previously in Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) (AOCI) are reclassified to earnings when there is a reduction of the hedged net investment resulting from disposal of a foreign operation. Classification of Derivatives The Company recognizes the fair market value of derivative instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as current and long-term assets or liabilities depending on the timing of the settlements and the resulting cash flows associated with the instruments. Fair value amounts related to cash flows occurring beyond one year are classified as non-current. Cash inflows and outflows related to derivative instruments are classified as Operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Balance Sheet Offset Assets and liabilities arising from derivative instruments may be offset in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position when the Company has the legal right and intention to settle them on a net basis. Transaction Costs Transaction costs are incremental costs directly related to the acquisition of a financial asset or the issuance of a financial liability. The Company incurs transaction costs primarily from the issuance of debt and classifies these costs as Deferred amounts and other assets. These costs are amortized using the effective interest rate method over the life of the related debt instrument. EQUITY INVESTMENTS Equity investments over which the Company exercises significant influence, but does not have controlling financial interests, are accounted for using the equity method. Equity investments are initially measured at cost and are adjusted for the Company’s proportionate share of undistributed equity earnings or loss. Equity investments are increased for contributions made to and decreased for distributions received from the investees. To the extent an equity investee undertakes activities necessary to commence its planned principal operations, the Company capitalizes interest costs associated with its investment during such period. RESTRICTED LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS Long-term investments that are restricted as to withdrawal or usage, for the purposes of the NEB’s LMCI, are presented as Restricted long-term investments on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. OTHER INVESTMENTS Generally, the Company classifies equity investments in entities over which it does not exercise significant influence and that do not trade on an actively quoted market as other investments carried at cost. Financial assets in this category are initially recorded at fair value with no subsequent re-measurement. Any investments which do trade on an active market are classified as available for sale investments measured at fair value through OCI. Dividends received from investments carried at cost are recognized in earnings when the right to receive payment is established. NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS Noncontrolling interests represent ownership interests attributable to third parties in certain consolidated subsidiaries, limited partnerships and VIEs. The portion of equity not owned by the Company in such entities is reflected as noncontrolling interests within the equity section of the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position and, in the case of redeemable noncontrolling interests, within the mezzanine section of the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position between long-term liabilities and equity. The Fund’s noncontrolling interest holders have the option to redeem the Fund trust units for cash, subject to certain limitations. Redeemable noncontrolling interests are recognized at the maximum redemption value of the trust units held by third parties, which references the market price of ENF common shares. On a quarterly basis, changes in estimated redemption values are reflected as a charge or credit to retained earnings. The use of the HLBV method by ECT impacts the earnings attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests reported on Enbridge’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings. INCOME TAXES The liability method of accounting for income taxes is followed. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying values for accounting purposes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using the tax rate that is expected to apply when the temporary differences reverse. For the Company’s regulated operations, a deferred income tax liability is recognized with a corresponding regulatory asset to the extent taxes can be recovered through rates. Any interest and/or penalty incurred related to tax is reflected in Income taxes. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS AND TRANSLATION Foreign currency transactions are those transactions whose terms are denominated in a currency other than the currency of the primary economic environment in which the Company or a reporting subsidiary operates, referred to as the functional currency. Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rate prevailing at the date of transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated to the functional currency using the rate of exchange in effect at the balance sheet date. Exchange gains and losses resulting from translation of monetary assets and liabilities are included in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings in the period in which they arise. Gains and losses arising from translation of foreign operations’ functional currencies to the Company’s Canadian dollar presentation currency are included in the CTA component of AOCI and are recognized in earnings upon sale of the foreign operation. Asset and liability accounts are translated at the exchange rates in effect on the balance sheet date, while revenues and expenses are translated using monthly average exchange rates. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Cash and cash equivalents include short-term investments with a term to maturity of three months or less when purchased. RESTRICTED CASH Cash and cash equivalents that are restricted as to withdrawal or usage, in accordance with specific commercial arrangements, are presented as Restricted cash on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. LOANS AND RECEIVABLES Affiliate long-term notes receivable are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method, net of any impairment losses recognized. Accounts receivable and other are measured at cost. ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS Allowance for doubtful accounts is determined based on collection history. When the Company has determined that further collection efforts are unlikely to be successful, amounts charged to the allowance for doubtful accounts are applied against the impaired accounts receivable. INVENTORY Inventory is comprised of natural gas in storage held in EGD and crude oil and natural gas held primarily by energy services businesses in the Gas Pipelines, Processing and Energy Services and Sponsored Investments segments. Natural gas in storage in EGD is recorded at the quarterly prices approved by the OEB in the determination of distribution rates. The actual price of gas purchased may differ from the OEB approved price. The difference between the approved price and the actual cost of the gas purchased is deferred as a liability for future refund or as an asset for collection as approved by the OEB. Other commodities inventory is recorded at the lower of cost, as determined on a weighted average basis, or market value. Upon disposition, other commodities inventory is recorded to Commodity costs on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings at the weighted average cost of inventory, including any adjustments recorded to reduce inventory to market value. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT Property, plant and equipment is recorded at historical cost. Expenditures for construction, expansion, major renewals and betterments are capitalized. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred. Expenditures for project development are capitalized if they are expected to have future benefit. The Company capitalizes interest incurred during construction for non rate-regulated assets. For rate-regulated assets, AFUDC is included in the cost of property, plant and equipment and is depreciated over future periods as part of the total cost of the related asset. AFUDC includes both an interest component and, if approved by the regulator, a cost of equity component. Two primary methods of depreciation are utilized. For distinct assets, depreciation is generally provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets commencing when the asset is placed in service. For largely homogeneous groups of assets with comparable useful lives, the pool method of accounting for property, plant and equipment is followed whereby similar assets are grouped and depreciated as a pool. When group assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, gains and losses are not reflected in earnings but are booked as an adjustment to accumulated depreciation. DEFERRED AMOUNTS AND OTHER ASSETS Deferred amounts and other assets primarily include: costs which regulatory authorities have permitted, or are expected to permit, to be recovered through future rates including deferred income taxes; contractual receivables under the terms of long-term delivery contracts; derivative financial instruments; and deferred financing costs. Deferred financing costs are amortized using the effective interest method over the term of the related debt and are recorded in Interest expense. INTANGIBLE ASSETS Intangible assets consist primarily of certain software costs, natural gas supply opportunities, acquired power purchase agreements, land leases and permits. The Company capitalizes costs incurred during the application development stage of internal use software projects. Natural gas supply opportunities are growth opportunities, identified upon acquisition, present in gas producing zones where certain of EEP’s gas systems are located. Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their expected lives, commencing when the asset is available for use. GOODWILL Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net identifiable assets on acquisition of a business. The carrying value of goodwill, which is not amortized, is assessed for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances arise that suggest the carrying value of goodwill may be impaired. For the purposes of impairment testing, reporting units are identified as business operations within an operating segment. The Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. If the two-step goodwill impairment test is performed, the first step involves determining the fair value of the Company’s reporting units inclusive of goodwill and comparing those values to the carrying value of each reporting unit. If the carrying value of a reporting unit, including allocated goodwill, exceeds its fair value, goodwill impairment is measured as the excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s allocated goodwill over the implied fair value of the goodwill based on the fair value of the reporting unit’s assets and liabilities. IMPAIRMENT The Company reviews the carrying values of its long-lived assets as events or changes in circumstances warrant. If it is determined that the carrying value of an asset exceeds the undiscounted cash flows expected from the asset, the asset is written down to fair value. With respect to investments in debt and equity securities, the Company assesses at each balance sheet date whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset is impaired by completing a quantitative or qualitative analysis of factors impacting the investment. If there is determined to be objective evidence of impairment, the Company internally values the expected discounted cash flows using observable market inputs and determines whether the decline below carrying value is other than temporary. If the decline is determined to be other than temporary, an impairment charge is recorded in earnings with an offsetting reduction to the carrying value of the asset. With respect to other financial assets, the Company assesses the assets for impairment when it no longer has reasonable assurance of timely collection. If evidence of impairment is noted, the Company reduces the value of the financial asset to its estimated realizable amount, determined using discounted expected future cash flows. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS ARO associated with the retirement of long-lived assets are measured at fair value and recognized as Accounts payable and other or Other long-term liabilities in the period in which they can be reasonably determined. The fair value approximates the cost a third party would charge to perform the tasks necessary to retire such assets and is recognized at the present value of expected future cash flows. ARO are added to the carrying value of the associated asset and depreciated over the asset’s useful life. The corresponding liability is accreted over time through charges to earnings and is reduced by actual costs of decommissioning and reclamation. The Company’s estimates of retirement costs could change as a result of changes in cost estimates and regulatory requirements. For the majority of the Company’s assets, it is not possible to make a reasonable estimate of ARO due to the indeterminate timing and scope of the asset retirements. RETIREMENT AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS The Company maintains pension plans which provide defined benefit and defined contribution pension benefits. Defined benefit pension plan costs are determined using actuarial methods and are funded through contributions determined using the projected benefit method, which incorporates management’s best estimates of future salary levels, other cost escalations, retirement ages of employees and other actuarial factors including discount rates and mortality. In 2014, new mortality tables were issued by the Society of Actuaries in the United States which were further revised in 2015. These tables, along with the Canadian Institute of Actuaries tables that were revised in 2013, were used by the Company for measurement of its benefit obligations of its United States pension plan (the United States Plan) and the Canadian pension plans (the Canadian Plans), respectively. The Company determines discount rates by reference to rates of high-quality long-term corporate bonds with maturities that approximate the timing of future payments the Company anticipates making under each of the respective plans. Pension cost is charged to earnings and includes:  Cost of pension plan benefits provided in exchange for employee services rendered during the year;  Interest cost of pension plan obligations;  Expected return on pension plan assets;  Amortization of the prior service costs and amendments on a straight-line basis over the expected average remaining service period of the active employee group covered by the plans; and  Amortization of cumulative unrecognized net actuarial gains and losses in excess of 10% of the greater of the accrued benefit obligation or the fair value of plan assets, over the expected average remaining service life of the active employee group covered by the plans. Actuarial gains and losses arise from the difference between the actual and expected rate of return on plan assets for that period or from changes in actuarial assumptions used to determine the accrued benefit obligation, including discount rate, changes in headcount or salary inflation experience. Pension plan assets are measured at fair value. The expected return on pension plan assets is determined using market related values and assumptions on the specific invested asset mix within the pension plans. The market related values reflect estimated return on investments consistent with long-term historical averages for similar assets. For defined contribution plans, contributions made by the Company are expensed in the period in which the contribution occurs. The Company also provides OPEB other than pensions, including group health care and life insurance benefits for eligible retirees, their spouses and qualified dependents. The cost of such benefits is accrued during the years in which employees render service. The overfunded or underfunded status of defined benefit pension and OPEB plans is recognized as Deferred amounts and other assets, Accounts payable and other or Other long-term liabilities, on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. A plan’s funded status is measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the plan’s projected benefit obligation. Any unrecognized actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs and credits that arise during the period are recognized as a component of OCI, net of tax. Certain regulated utility operations of the Company record regulatory adjustments to reflect the difference between pension expense and OPEB costs for accounting purposes and the pension expense and OPEB costs for ratemaking purposes. Offsetting regulatory assets or liabilities are recorded to the extent pension expense or OPEB costs are expected to be collected from or refunded to customers, respectively, in future rates. In the absence of rate regulation, regulatory balances would not be recorded and pension and OPEB costs would be charged to earnings and OCI on an accrual basis. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION Incentive Stock Options (ISO) granted are recorded using the fair value method. Under this method, compensation expense is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the ISO granted as calculated by the Black-Scholes-Merton model and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the vesting period or the period to early retirement eligibility, with a corresponding credit to Additional paid-in capital. Balances in Additional paid-in capital are transferred to Share capital when the options are exercised. Performance stock options (PSO) granted are recorded using the fair value method. Under this method, compensation expense is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the PSO granted as calculated by the Bloomberg barrier option valuation model and is recognized over the vesting period with a corresponding credit to Additional paid-in capital. The options become exercisable when both performance targets and time vesting requirements have been met. Balances in Additional paid-in capital are transferred to Share capital when the options are exercised. Performance Stock Units (PSU) and Restricted Stock Units (RSU) are cash settled awards for which the related liability is remeasured each reporting period. PSU vest at the completion of a three-year term and RSU vest at the completion of a 35-month term. During the vesting term, compensation expense is recorded based on the number of units outstanding and the current market price of the Company’s shares with an offset to Accounts payable and other or to Other long-term liabilities. The value of the PSU is also dependent on the Company’s performance relative to performance targets set out under the plan. COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES The Company expenses or capitalizes, as appropriate, expenditures for ongoing compliance with environmental regulations that relate to past or current operations. The Company expenses costs incurred for remediation of existing environmental contamination caused by past operations that do not benefit future periods by preventing or eliminating future contamination. The Company records liabilities for environmental matters when assessments indicate that remediation efforts are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Estimates of environmental liabilities are based on currently available facts, existing technology and presently enacted laws and regulations taking into consideration the likely effects of inflation and other factors. These amounts also consider prior experience in remediating contaminated sites, other companies’ clean-up experience and data released by government organizations. The Company’s estimates are subject to revision in future periods based on actual costs or new information and are included in Environmental liabilities and Other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at their undiscounted amounts. There is always a potential of incurring additional costs in connection with environmental liabilities due to variations in any or all of the categories described above, including modified or revised requirements from regulatory agencies, in addition to fines and penalties, as well as expenditures associated with litigation and settlement of claims. The Company evaluates recoveries from insurance coverage separately from the liability and, when recovery is probable, the Company records and reports an asset separately from the associated liability in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Liabilities for other commitments and contingencies are recognized when, after fully analysing available information, the Company determines it is either probable that an asset has been impaired, or that a liability has been incurred, and the amount of impairment or loss can be reasonably estimated. When a range of probable loss can be estimated, the Company recognizes the most likely amount, or if no amount is more likely than another, the minimum of the range of probable loss is accrued. The Company expenses legal costs associated with loss contingencies as such costs are incurred.

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