Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Description of Business:

Mondelēz International, Inc. (formerly Kraft Foods Inc.) was incorporated in 2000 in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Mondelēz International, Inc., through its subsidiaries (collectively “Mondelēz International,” “we,” “us” and “our”), sells food and beverage products to consumers in 165 countries.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation:

The consolidated financial statements include Mondelēz International, Inc. as well as our wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries. For all periods presented through December 31, 2015, the operating results of our Venezuelan subsidiaries are included in our consolidated financial statements. As of the close of the fourth quarter of 2015, we deconsolidated our Venezuelan operations from our consolidated financial statements and recognized a loss on deconsolidation. See Currency Translation and Highly Inflationary Accounting: Venezuela below for more information.

We account for investments in which we exercise significant influence (20%-50% ownership interest) under the equity method of accounting. On July 2, 2015, we contributed our global coffee businesses to a new company, Jacobs Douwe Egberts (“JDE”), in which we now hold a 43.5% equity interest (collectively, the “coffee business transactions”). Historically, our coffee businesses and the income from primarily coffee-related and smaller equity method investments were recorded within our operating income as these businesses operated as direct extensions of our base business. Following the coffee business transactions, while we retain an ongoing interest in coffee through significant equity method investments, and we have significant influence with JDE and other equity method investments, we do not have control over these operations directly. As such, beginning in the third quarter of 2015, we began to recognize the investment earnings in after-tax equity method investment earnings outside of operating income and segment income. For the six months ended December 31, 2015, after-tax equity method investment net earnings were less than $1 million on a combined basis and thus is not shown on our consolidated statement of earnings for this period. For periods prior to the July 2, 2015 closing, the coffee and other equity method investment earnings were included within our operating income and segment income. Please see Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions – Coffee Business Transactions, and Note 17, Segment Reporting, for more information on these transactions.

We use the cost method of accounting for investments in which we have an ownership interest of less than 20% and in which we do not exercise significant influence. The noncontrolling interest represents the noncontrolling investors’ interests in the results of subsidiaries that we control and consolidate. All intercompany transactions are eliminated.

Discontinued Operation

Discontinued Operation:

On October 1, 2012 (the “Distribution Date”), we completed the spin-off of our former North American grocery business, Kraft Foods Group, Inc. (“Kraft Foods Group”; which is now part of The Kraft Heinz Company), by distributing 100% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Kraft Foods Group to holders of our Common Stock (the “Spin-Off”). We retained our global snacks business along with other food and beverage categories. The divested Kraft Foods Group business is presented as a discontinued operation on the consolidated statements of earnings in 2013. See Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for additional information.

Accounting Calendar Change

Accounting Calendar Change:

In connection with moving toward a common consolidation date across the Company, in the first quarter of 2015, we changed the consolidation date for our North America segment from the last Saturday of each period to the last calendar day of each period. The change had a favorable impact of $78 million on net revenues and $37 million on operating income in 2015. In the first quarter of 2013, we changed the consolidation date for our Europe segment, from predominantly the last Saturday of each period to the last calendar day of each period. The change had a favorable impact of $37 million on net revenues and $6 million on operating income in 2013.

As a result of these changes, each of our operating subsidiaries now reports results as of the last calendar day of the period. We believe the change will improve business planning and financial reporting by better matching the close dates of the operating subsidiaries and bringing the reporting dates to the period-end date. As the effect to prior-period results was not material, we have not revised prior-period results.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates:

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect a number of amounts in our consolidated financial statements. Significant accounting policy elections, estimates and assumptions include, among others, pension and benefit plan assumptions, valuation assumptions of goodwill and intangible assets, useful lives of long-lived assets, restructuring program liabilities, marketing program accruals, insurance and self-insurance reserves and income taxes. We base our estimates on historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable. If actual amounts differ from estimates, we include the revisions in our consolidated results of operations in the period the actual amounts become known. Historically, the aggregate differences, if any, between our estimates and actual amounts in any year have not had a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Currency Translation and Highly Inflationary Accounting

Currency Translation and Highly Inflationary Accounting:

We translate the results of operations of our subsidiaries from multiple currencies using average exchange rates during each period and translate balance sheet accounts using exchange rates at the end of each period. We record currency translation adjustments as a component of equity (except for highly inflationary currencies such as in Venezuela) and realized exchange gains and losses on transactions in earnings.

Venezuela. From January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2015, we accounted for the results of our Venezuelan subsidiaries using the U.S. dollar as the functional currency as prescribed by U.S. GAAP for highly inflationary economies.

Effective as of the close of the 2015 fiscal year, we concluded that we no longer met the accounting criteria for consolidation of our Venezuela subsidiaries due to a loss of control over our Venezuelan operations and an other-than-temporary lack of currency exchangeability. During the fourth quarter of 2015, representatives of the Venezuelan government arbitrarily imposed pricing restrictions on our local operations that resulted in our inability to recover operating costs. We immediately began an appeal process with the Venezuelan authorities to demonstrate that our pricing was in line with the regulatory requirements. In January 2016, local officials verbally lifted some of the pricing restrictions; however, it is uncertain when the legally required administrative order will be issued. The legal and regulatory environment has become more unreliable. While we had been complying with the Venezuelan law governing pricing and profitability controls and had followed the legal process for appeal, the appeal process was not available to us as outlined under law. Additionally, we have been increasingly facing issues procuring raw materials and packaging. Taken together, these actions, the economic environment in Venezuela and the progressively limited access to dollars to import goods through the use of any of the available currency mechanisms have impaired our ability to operate and control our Venezuelan businesses. We therefore concluded that we no longer met the criteria for the consolidation of our Venezuelan subsidiaries.

As of the close of the 2015 fiscal year, we deconsolidated and changed to the cost method of accounting for our Venezuelan operations. We recorded a $778 million pre-tax loss as we reduced the value of our cost method investment in Venezuela and all Venezuelan receivables held by our other subsidiaries to realizable fair value, resulting in full impairment. The recorded loss also included historical cumulative translation adjustments related to our Venezuelan operations that had previously been recorded in accumulated other comprehensive losses within equity. The fair value of our investments in our Venezuelan subsidiaries was estimated based on discounted cash flow projections of current and expected operating losses in the foreseeable future and our ability to operate the business on a sustainable basis. Our fair value estimate reflects U.S. dollar exchange and discount rate assumptions that reflect the inflation and economic uncertainty in Venezuela.

Beginning in 2016, we will no longer include net revenues, earnings or net assets of our Venezuelan subsidiaries within our consolidated financial statements. Under the cost method of accounting, we will recognize earnings only to the extent cash is received from our Venezuelan subsidiaries. Given the current and ongoing difficult economic, regulatory and business environment in Venezuela, there continues to be significant uncertainty related to our operations in Venezuela, and we expect these conditions will continue for the foreseeable future. We will monitor the extent of our ability to control our Venezuelan operations and the liquidity and availability of U.S. dollars at different rates as our current situation in Venezuela may change over time and lead to consolidation at a future date.

For 2015 and prior periods presented, the operating results of our Venezuela operations were included in our consolidated statements of earnings. During this time, we recognized a number of currency-related remeasurement losses resulting from devaluations of the Venezuela bolivar exchange rates we historically used to source U.S. dollars for purchases of imported raw materials, packaging and other goods and services. The following table sets forth a history of the remeasurement losses, the deconsolidation loss and historical operating results and financial position of our Venezuelan subsidiaries for the periods presented:


	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			2013
	(in millions)

Net Revenues	$	1,217		$	760		$	795
Operating income (excluding remeasurement and deconsolidation losses)		266			181			211
Remeasurement losses:
Q1 2013: 4.30 to 6.30 bolivars to the U.S. dollar		–			–			(54	)
Q1 2014: 6.30 to 10.70 bolivars to the U.S. dollar		–			(142	)		–
SICAD I remeasurements through December 31, 2014		–			(25	)		–
Q1 2015: 11.50 to 12.00 bolivars to the U.S. dollar		(11	)		–			–
Loss on deconsolidation		(778	)		–			–

	As of December 31,
	2015			2014
	(in millions)

Cash ⁽¹⁾	$	611		$	278
Net monetary assets ⁽¹⁾		405			236
Net assets ⁽¹⁾		658			500

(1)

Represents the financial position of our Venezuelan subsidiaries prior to the accounting change on December 31, 2015.

Argentina. On December 16, 2015, the new Argentinean government fiscal authority announced the lifting of strict currency controls and reduced restrictions of exports and imports. The next day, the value of the Argentine peso relative to the U.S. dollar fell by 36% and remained relatively stable at this level through December 31, 2015. Further volatility in the exchange rate is expected. While the business operating environment remains challenging, we continue to monitor and actively manage our investment and exposures in Argentina. Although our ability to effectively hedge against currency fluctuations was reduced during the presidential transition in December, the hedging markets have returned to normal operating levels, allowing us to continue executing our hedging programs. We continue refining our product portfolio to improve our product offerings, mix and profitability. We also continue to implement additional cost initiatives to protect the business. While further currency declines could have an adverse impact on our ongoing results of operations, we believe the actions by the new government to reduce economic controls and business restrictions will provide favorable opportunities for our Argentinean subsidiaries. Our Argentinian operations contributed approximately $755 million, or 2.5% of consolidated net revenues and approximately $45 million, or 0.5% of consolidated operating income for the year ended December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 2015, the net monetary liabilities of our Argentina operations were not material. Argentina is not designated as a highly-inflationary economy for accounting purposes, so we record currency translation adjustments within equity and realized exchange gains and losses on transactions in earnings.

Other Countries. Since we have operations in over 80 countries and sell in 165 countries, we regularly monitor economic and currency-related risks and seek to take protective measures in response to these exposures. Some of the countries in which we do business have had significant economic uncertainty recently. These include Brazil, China, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine, most of which have had either currency devaluation or volatility. We continue to monitor operations, currencies and net monetary exposures in these countries. At this time, we do not have material net monetary asset exposures or risk to our operating results from changing to highly inflationary accounting in these countries.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

Cash and cash equivalents include demand deposits with banks and all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Transfers of Financial Assets

Transfers of Financial Assets:

We account for transfers of financial assets as sales when we have surrendered control over the related assets. Whether control has been relinquished requires, among other things, an evaluation of relevant legal considerations and an assessment of the nature and extent of our continuing involvement with the assets transferred. We use these programs periodically when circumstances are favorable to manage liquidity. Gains and losses stemming from transfers reported as sales are included as an offset to net revenue in the consolidated statements of earnings. Assets obtained and liabilities incurred in connection with transfers reported as sales are initially recognized on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value.

On December 19, 2013 in Europe and on December 22, 2015 in the United States, we entered into uncommitted revolving non-recourse accounts receivable factoring arrangements with a major global bank. The facilities, whose maximum combined capacity is $820 million, will remain available unless terminated by either party.

Under the arrangements, we may sell eligible short-term trade receivables to the bank in exchange for cash. The transfers are reported as sales of trade receivables within our consolidated financial statements. We continue to service the receivables sold, acting solely as a collecting agent on behalf of the bank. We recorded losses on these sales of $3 million in 2015 and $2 million in 2014. The outstanding principal amount of receivables sold under the combined facilities amounted to $570 million in 2015 and $211 million in 2014.

Inventories

Inventories:

We value our inventory using the average cost method. We also record inventory allowances for overstock and obsolete inventories due to ingredient and packaging changes.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-Lived Assets:

Property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost and depreciated by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Machinery and equipment are depreciated over periods ranging from 3 to 20 years and buildings and building improvements over periods up to 40 years.

We review long-lived assets, including amortizable intangible assets, for realizability on an ongoing basis. Changes in depreciation, generally accelerated depreciation, are determined and recorded when estimates of the remaining useful lives or residual values of long-term assets change. We also review for impairment when conditions exist that indicate the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. In those circumstances, we perform undiscounted operating cash flow analyses to determine if an impairment exists. When testing for asset impairment, we group assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which cash flows are separately identifiable. Any impairment loss is calculated as the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its estimated fair value. Fair value is estimated based on the undiscounted cash flows for the asset group over the remaining useful life or based on the expected cash proceeds for the asset less costs of disposal. Any significant impairment losses would be recorded within asset impairment and exit costs in the consolidated statements of earnings.

Software Costs

Software Costs:

We capitalize certain computer software and software development costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining computer software for internal use. Capitalized software costs are included in property, plant and equipment and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the software, which do not exceed seven years.

Goodwill and Non-Amortizable Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Non-Amortizable Intangible Assets:

We test goodwill and non-amortizable intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis on October 1. We assess goodwill impairment risk throughout the year by performing a qualitative review of entity-specific, industry, market and general economic factors affecting our goodwill reporting units. We review our operating segment and reporting unit structure for goodwill testing annually or as significant changes in the organization occur. Annually, we may perform qualitative testing or elect to do quantitative testing instead, depending on prior test results, current year developments, current risk evaluations and other practical considerations. In the event that significant potential goodwill impairment risk exists for a specific reporting unit, we apply a two-step quantitative test. The first step compares the reporting unit’s estimated fair value with its carrying value. We estimate a reporting unit’s fair value using a discounted cash flow method which incorporates planned growth rates, market-based discount rates and estimates of residual value. This year, for our Europe and North America reporting units, we used a market-based, weighted-average cost of capital of 6.8% to discount the projected cash flows of those operations. For our Latin America, Asia Pacific and EEMEA reporting units, we used a risk-rated discount rate of 9.8%. Estimating the fair value of individual reporting units requires us to make assumptions and estimates regarding our future plans, industry and economic conditions, and our actual results and conditions may differ over time. If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s net assets exceeds its fair value, we would apply a second step to measure the difference between the carrying value and implied fair value of goodwill. If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, the goodwill is impaired and its carrying value is reduced to the implied fair value of the goodwill.

Annually we assess non-amortizable intangible assets for impairment by performing a qualitative review and assessing events and circumstances that could affect the fair value or carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets. If significant potential impairment risk exists for a specific asset, we quantitatively test it for impairment by comparing its estimated fair value with its carrying value. We determine estimated fair value using planned growth rates, market-based discount rates and estimates of royalty rates. If the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value, we consider the asset impaired and reduce its carrying value to the estimated fair value. We amortize definite-lived intangible assets over their estimated useful lives and evaluate them for impairment as we do other long-lived assets.

Insurance and Self-Insurance

Insurance and Self-Insurance:

We use a combination of insurance and self-insurance for a number of risks, including workers’ compensation, general liability, automobile liability, product liability and our obligation for employee healthcare benefits. We estimate the liabilities associated with these risks on an undiscounted basis by evaluating and making judgments about historical claims experience and other actuarial assumptions and the estimated impact on future results.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition:

We recognize revenues when title and risk of loss pass to customers, which generally occurs upon delivery or shipment of goods. Revenues are recorded net of sales incentives and trade promotions and include all shipping and handling charges billed to customers. Our shipping and handling costs are classified as part of cost of sales. Provisions for product returns and other trade allowances are also recorded as reductions to revenues within the same period that the revenue is recognized.

Marketing and Research and Development

Marketing and Research and Development:

We promote our products with advertising, marketing, sales incentives and trade promotions. These programs include, but are not limited to, cooperative advertising, in-store displays, consumer promotions, new product introduction fees, discounts, coupons, rebates and volume-based incentives. We expense advertising costs either in the period the advertising first takes place or as incurred. Sales incentive and trade promotion activities are recorded as a reduction to revenues based on amounts estimated due to customers and consumers at the end of a period. We base these estimates principally on historical utilization and redemption rates. For interim reporting purposes, advertising expenses and sales incentives are charged to operations as a percentage of volume, based on estimated volume and estimated program spending. We do not defer costs on our year-end consolidated balance sheet and all marketing costs are recorded as an expense in the year incurred. Advertising expense was $1,542 million in 2015, $1,552 million in 2014 and $1,721 million in 2013. We expense product research and development costs as incurred. Research and development expense was $409 million in 2015, $455 million in 2014 and $471 million in 2013. We record marketing and research and development expenses within selling, general and administrative expenses.

Employee Benefit Plans

Employee Benefit Plans:

We provide a range of benefits to our current and retired employees. These include pension benefits, postretirement health care benefits and postemployment benefits depending upon jurisdiction, tenure, job level and other factors. Local statutory requirements govern many of the benefit plans we provide around the world. Local government plans generally cover health care benefits for retirees outside the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. Our U.S., Canadian and U.K. subsidiaries provide health care and other benefits to most retired employees. Our postemployment benefit plans provide primarily severance benefits for eligible salaried and certain hourly employees. The cost for these plans is recognized in earnings primarily over the working life of the covered employee.

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments:

We use financial instruments to manage our currency exchange rate, commodity price and interest rate risks. We monitor and manage these exposures as part of our overall risk management program, which focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects that the volatility of these markets may have on our operating results. A principal objective of our risk management strategies is to reduce significant, unanticipated earnings fluctuations that may arise from volatility in currency exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates, principally through the use of derivative instruments.

We use a combination of primarily currency forward contracts, futures, options and swaps; commodity forward contracts, futures and options; and interest rate swaps to manage our exposure to cash flow variability, protect the value of our existing currency assets and liabilities and protect the value of our debt. See Note 9, Financial Instruments, to the consolidated financial statements for more information on the types of derivative instruments we use.

We record derivative financial instruments on a gross basis and at fair value in our consolidated balance sheets within other current assets or other current liabilities due to their relatively short-term duration. Cash flows from derivative instruments are classified in the consolidated statements of cash flows based on the nature of the derivative instrument. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated as a cash flow hedge, to the extent that the hedge is effective, are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive earnings / (losses) and reclassified to earnings when the hedged item affects earnings. Changes in fair value of economic hedges and the ineffective portion of all hedges are recognized in current period earnings. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated as a fair value hedge, along with the changes in the fair value of the related hedged asset or liability, are recorded in earnings in the same period. We use non-U.S. dollar denominated debt to hedge a portion of our net investment in non-U.S. operations against adverse movements in exchange rates, with currency movements related to the debt and net investment and the related deferred taxes recorded within currency translation adjustment in accumulated other comprehensive earnings / (losses).

In order to qualify for hedge accounting, a specified level of hedging effectiveness between the derivative instrument and the item being hedged must exist at inception and throughout the hedged period. We must also formally document the nature of and relationship between the derivative and the hedged item, as well as our risk management objectives, strategies for undertaking the hedge transaction and method of assessing hedge effectiveness. Additionally, for a hedge of a forecasted transaction, the significant characteristics and expected term of the forecasted transaction must be specifically identified, and it must be probable that the forecasted transaction will occur. If it is no longer probable that the hedged forecasted transaction will occur, we would recognize the gain or loss related to the derivative in earnings.

When we use derivatives, we are exposed to credit and market risks. Credit risk exists when a counterparty to a derivative contract might fail to fulfill its performance obligations under the contract. We reduce our credit risk by entering into transactions with counterparties with high quality, investment grade credit ratings, limiting the amount of exposure with each counterparty and monitoring the financial condition of our counterparties. We also maintain a policy of requiring that all significant, non-exchange traded derivative contracts with a duration of one year or longer are governed by an International Swaps and Derivatives Association master agreement. Market risk exists when the value of a derivative or other financial instrument might be adversely affected by changes in market conditions and commodity prices, currency exchange rates or interest rates. We manage derivative market risk by limiting the types of derivative instruments and derivative strategies we use and the degree of market risk that we plan to hedge through the use of derivative instruments.

Commodity cash flow hedges. We are exposed to price risk related to forecasted purchases of certain commodities that we primarily use as raw materials. We enter into commodity forward contracts primarily for wheat, sugar and other sweeteners, soybean and vegetable oils and cocoa. Commodity forward contracts generally are not subject to the accounting requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities under the normal purchases exception. We also use commodity futures and options to hedge the price of certain input costs, including cocoa, energy costs, wheat, sugar and other sweeteners, soybean and vegetable oils and dairy. Some of these derivative instruments are highly effective and qualify for hedge accounting treatment. We also sell commodity futures to unprice future purchase commitments, and we occasionally use related futures to cross-hedge a commodity exposure. We are not a party to leveraged derivatives and, by policy, do not use financial instruments for speculative purposes.

Currency exchange cash flow hedges. We use various financial instruments to mitigate our exposure to changes in exchange rates from third-party and intercompany current and forecasted transactions. These instruments may include currency exchange forward contracts, futures, options and swaps. Based on the size and location of our businesses, we use these instruments to hedge our exposure to certain currencies, including the euro, pound sterling, Swiss franc and Canadian dollar.

Interest rate cash flow and fair value hedges. We manage interest rate volatility by modifying the pricing or maturity characteristics of certain liabilities so that the net impact on expense is not, on a material basis, adversely affected by movements in interest rates. As a result of interest rate fluctuations, hedged fixed-rate liabilities appreciate or depreciate in market value. We expect the effect of this unrealized appreciation or depreciation to be substantially offset by our gains or losses on the derivative instruments that are linked to these hedged liabilities. We use derivative instruments, including interest rate swaps that have indices related to the pricing of specific liabilities as part of our interest rate risk management strategy. As a matter of policy, we do not use highly leveraged derivative instruments for interest rate risk management. We use interest rate swaps to economically convert a portion of our fixed-rate debt into variable-rate debt. Under the interest rate swap contracts, we agree with other parties to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed-rate and floating-rate interest amounts, which is calculated based on an agreed-upon notional amount. We also use interest rate swaps to hedge the variability of interest payment cash flows on a portion of our future debt obligations. Substantially all of these derivative instruments are highly effective and qualify for hedge accounting treatment.

Hedges of net investments in non-U.S. operations. We have numerous investments outside the United States. The net assets of these subsidiaries are exposed to changes and volatility in currency exchange rates. We use local currency denominated debt to hedge our non-U.S. net investments against adverse movements in exchange rates. We designated our euro, pound sterling and Swiss franc denominated borrowings as a net investment hedge of a portion of our overall European operations. The gains and losses on our net investment in these designated European operations are economically offset by losses and gains on our euro, pound sterling and Swiss franc denominated borrowings. The change in the debt’s value, net of deferred taxes, is recorded in the currency translation adjustment component of accumulated other comprehensive earnings / (losses).

Income Taxes

Income Taxes:

We recognize tax benefits in our financial statements when uncertain tax positions are assessed more likely than not to be sustained upon audit. The amount we recognize is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

We recognize deferred tax assets for deductible temporary differences, operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements:

In January 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) which provides updated guidance for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial assets and liabilities. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. We are currently assessing the impact across our operations and on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued an ASU that requires all deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in the balance sheet. The new standard did not change the current requirement to offset deferred tax liabilities and assets within a tax-paying component of an entity. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. It can also be applied either prospectively or retrospectively to all periods presented. We early adopted the new standard on December 31, 2015 on a prospective basis. We classified deferred taxes as non-current on our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2015. No prior periods were retrospectively adjusted.

In September 2015, the FASB issued an ASU that eliminates the requirement for an acquirer in a business combination to account for measurement-period adjustments retrospectively. Under the new guidance, measurement-period adjustments should be accounted for during the period in which the entity determines the amount of the adjustment. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted, and should be applied prospectively to open measurement periods after the effective date, regardless of the acquisition date. We elected to early adopt and will apply the standard in our accounting for the acquisitions that we closed during the third quarter of 2015. See Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information.

In July 2015, the FASB issued an ASU that simplifies the guidance on the subsequent measurement of inventory. U.S. GAAP currently requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. Previously, market could be replacement cost, net realizable value or net realizable value less an approximate normal profit margin. Under the new standard, inventory should be valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. We early adopted the new standard on January 1, 2016 on a prospective basis. The adoption of the standard is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2015, the FASB issued an ASU that applies to reporting entities that elect to measure the fair value of an investment using the net asset value (“NAV”) per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient. This ASU removes the requirement to include investments measured using the practical expedient within fair value hierarchy disclosures. Also, practical expedient disclosures previously required for all eligible investments are now only required for investments for which the practical expedient has been elected. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. As we measure certain defined benefit plan assets using the NAV practical expedient, we adopted the new standard on January 1, 2016. The new standard will impact our future pension disclosures and is not expected to otherwise have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued an ASU that provides guidance on evaluating whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If there is a software license component, software licensing accounting should be applied; otherwise, service contract accounting should be applied. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. We adopted the new standard on January 1, 2016 and on a prospective basis. The standard is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued an ASU that simplifies the presentation of debt issuance costs. The standard requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt obligation to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt instead of being presented as an asset, similar to the presentation of debt discounts. In August 2015, the FASB issued an update clarifying that for line-of-credit arrangements entities may continue to defer debt issuance costs as an asset. The ASU represents a change in accounting principle and requires retrospective application. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. We early adopted the new standard on December 31, 2015 and reclassified historical deferred debt issuance costs related to debt other than line-of-credit arrangements from long-term other assets to offset the related debt obligations.

In February 2015, the FASB issued an ASU that amends current consolidation guidance related to the evaluation of whether certain legal entities should be consolidated. The standard modifies both the variable interest entity (“VIE”) model and the voting interest model, including analyses of whether limited partnerships are VIEs and the impact of service fees and related party interests in determining if an entity is a VIE to the reporting entity. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. We adopted the new standard on January 1, 2016 and we do not expect the standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued an ASU on revenue recognition from contracts with customers. The new ASU outlines a new, single comprehensive model for companies to use in accounting for revenue. The core principle is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for the goods or services. The ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows from customer contracts, including significant judgments made in recognizing revenue. In May 2015, the FASB proposed changes to the new guidance in the areas of licenses and identifying performance obligations. In August 2015, the FASB issued an ASU that defers the effective date by one year to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted as of the original effective date which was for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The ASU may be applied retrospectively to historical periods presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. We have made progress in our due diligence and scoping reviews and continue to assess the impact of the new standard across our operations and on our consolidated financial statements. We anticipate adopting the new standard on January 1, 2018.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications:

Certain amounts previously reported have been reclassified to conform to current-year presentation. See above for reclassifications made related to deferred debt issuance costs.