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Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] |
Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies | Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies Background CSX Corporation (“CSX”), together with its subsidiaries (the “Company”), based in Jacksonville, Florida, is one of the nation's leading transportation companies. The Company provides rail-based transportation services including traditional rail service and the transport of intermodal containers and trailers. CSX's principal operating subsidiary, CSX Transportation, Inc. (“CSXT”), provides an important link to the transportation supply chain through its approximately 21,000 route mile rail network, which serves major population centers in 23 states east of the Mississippi River, the District of Columbia and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The Company's intermodal business links customers to railroads via trucks and terminals. After a merger on July 1, 2017 with CSX Real Property, Inc., a former wholly-owned CSX subsidiary, CSXT is now responsible for the Company's real estate sales, leasing, acquisition and management and development activities. In addition, as substantially all real estate sales, leasing, acquisition and management and development activities are focused on supporting railroad operations, all results of these activities are included in operating income beginning in 2017. Previously, the results of these activities were classified as operating or non-operating based on the nature of the activity and were not material for any periods presented. Other entities In addition to CSXT, the Company’s subsidiaries include CSX Intermodal Terminals, Inc. (“CSX Intermodal Terminals”), Total Distribution Services, Inc. (“TDSI”), Transflo Terminal Services, Inc. (“Transflo”), CSX Technology, Inc. (“CSX Technology”) and other subsidiaries. CSX Intermodal Terminals owns and operates a system of intermodal terminals, predominantly in the eastern United States and also performs drayage services (the pickup and delivery of intermodal shipments) for certain customers and trucking dispatch operations. TDSI serves the automotive industry with distribution centers and storage locations. Transflo connects non-rail served customers to the many benefits of rail by transferring products from rail to trucks. The biggest Transflo markets are chemicals and agriculture, which include shipments of plastics and ethanol. CSX Technology and other subsidiaries provide support services for the Company. Basis of Presentation In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements contain all normal, recurring adjustments necessary to fairly present the following:
• | Consolidated income statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 23, 2016;
• | Consolidated comprehensive income statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 23, 2016;
• | Consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2017 and December 30, 2016; and
• | Consolidated cash flow statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 23, 2016.
Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), certain information and disclosures normally included in the notes to the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been omitted from these interim financial statements. CSX suggests that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes included in CSX's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed current reports on Form 8-K. NOTE 1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies, continued Fiscal Year Through the second quarter 2017, CSX followed a 52/53 week fiscal reporting calendar with the last day of each reporting period ending on a Friday. On July 7, 2017 the Board of Directors of CSX approved a change in the fiscal reporting calendar from a 52/53 week year ending on the last Friday of December to a calendar year ending on December 31 each year, effective beginning with fiscal third quarter 2017. Related to the change in the fiscal calendar:
• | Fiscal year 2017 commenced on December 31, 2016, as the fiscal year 2016 ended on December 30, 2016 under the 52/53 week fiscal calendar.
• | The third quarter 2017 commenced on July 1, 2017, as the second quarter 2017 ended on June 30, 2017 under the 52/53 week fiscal calendar, and ended on September 30, 2017. Third quarter 2017 includes one more day of business results than third quarter 2016.
• | The fourth quarter 2017 will commence on October 1, 2017 and end on December 31, 2017. Fourth quarter 2017 will include six fewer days of business results than fourth quarter 2016, which contained an extra week under the 52/53 week fiscal calendar.
• | Fiscal year 2017 will include 366 days of activity, five fewer days than fiscal year 2016, which was a 53 week fiscal year that began on December 26, 2015 and ended December 30, 2016.
The Company does not expect that this change will materially impact comparability of the Company’s financial results for fiscal year 2016 and fiscal year 2017. Accordingly, the change to a calendar fiscal year will be made on a prospective basis and operating results for prior periods will not be adjusted. The Company will not be required to file a transition report because this change is not deemed a change in fiscal year for purposes of reporting subject to Rule 13a-10 or Rule 15d-10 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as the new fiscal year commences with the end of the prior fiscal year end and within seven days of the prior fiscal year end. Except as otherwise specified, references to “third quarter(s)” or “nine months” indicate CSX's fiscal periods ending September 30, 2017 and September 23, 2016, and references to "year-end" indicate the fiscal year ended December 30, 2016. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts on uncollectible amounts related to freight receivables, government reimbursement receivables, claims for damages and other various receivables. The allowance is based upon the creditworthiness of customers, historical experience, the age of the receivable and current market and economic conditions. Uncollectible amounts are charged against the allowance account. Allowance for doubtful accounts of $24 million and $33 million is included in the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2017 and December 30, 2016, respectively. NOTE 1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies, continued New Accounting Pronouncements In May 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") Compensation - Stock Compensation: Scope of Modification Accounting, which provides clarity on what changes to share-based awards are considered substantive and require modification accounting to be applied. This update is required beginning with first quarter 2018 and should be applied prospectively to award modifications after the effective date. The Company early adopted this standard update in second quarter 2017 and will apply it prospectively to any award modifications after the adoption date. The Company does not regularly modify the terms and conditions of share-based awards and does not believe this standard update will have a material effect on its financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which requires that only the service cost component of net periodic benefit costs be recorded as compensation cost in the operating expense section of the income statement. All other components of net periodic benefit cost (interest cost, expected return on plan assets and amortization of net loss) will be presented in other income - net. This standard update is effective beginning with the first quarter 2018 and must be applied retrospectively. The Company does not believe this standard update will have a material effect on its financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which eliminates step two, the calculation of the implied fair value of goodwill, from the goodwill impairment test. Impairment will be quantified in step one of the test as the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value. This standard update is effective beginning first quarter 2020 and must be applied prospectively. The Company does not believe this standard update will have a material effect on its financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which supersedes previous revenue recognition guidance. The new standard requires that a company recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. Companies will need to use more judgment and estimates than under the guidance currently in effect, including estimating the amount of variable revenue to recognize over each identified performance obligation. Additional disclosures will be required to help users of financial statements understand the nature, amount and timing of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts. CSX will adopt this standard update in first quarter 2018 and plans to use a modified retrospective method of adoption. The FASB has also issued several amendments to the revenue standard, including clarification on accounting for principal versus agent considerations (i.e., reporting gross versus net), licenses of intellectual property and identifying performance obligations. These amendments do not change the core principle of the standard, but provide clarity and implementation guidance. NOTE 1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies, continued The Company is currently finalizing its review of the impact of adopting this new guidance and has developed a comprehensive implementation plan. In-depth reviews of commercial contracts have been completed and changes to processes and internal controls to meet the standard’s reporting and disclosure requirements have been identified and are being implemented. At this time, the Company does not believe this standard update will have a material effect on its financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Freight revenue will continue to be recognized ratably over transit time. Additionally, the disaggregated revenue information required to be disclosed under this standard update is similar to the information currently included in the Results of Operations section of Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU, Leases, which will require lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets as a right-of-use asset with a corresponding lease liability, and lessors to recognize a net lease investment. Additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures will also be required. This standard update is effective for CSX beginning with the first quarter 2019 and will be adopted using a modified retrospective method. Changes to processes and internal controls to meet the standard’s reporting and disclosure requirements have been identified and are being implemented. Software has been implemented that will assist in the recognition of additional assets and liabilities to be included on the balance sheet related to leases currently classified as operating leases with durations greater than twelve months, with certain allowable exceptions. The Company continues to evaluate the expected impact of this standard update on disclosures, but does not anticipate any material changes to operating results or liquidity. Other Items Management Workforce Reduction Through an involuntary separation program with enhanced benefits to further its strategic objectives, CSX reduced its management workforce by approximately 950 employees during 2017. The Company has been focused on driving efficiencies through process improvement and responding to business mix shifts. These management reductions were designed to further streamline general and administrative and operating support functions to speed decision making and further control costs. In April 2017, the involuntary separation program was essentially completed. This program extends separation benefits for certain members of management that could result in additional charges through first quarter 2018. The majority of separation benefits are paid from general corporate funds while certain benefits are paid through CSX’s qualified pension plans. Reimbursement Arrangements In June 2017, the Company and the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, E. Hunter Harrison, executed a letter agreement providing for certain reimbursement arrangements. Pursuant to the letter agreement, the Company made a reimbursement payment to MR Argent Advisor LLC ("Mantle Ridge") of $55 million for funds previously paid to Mr. Harrison by Mantle Ridge. Further, the Company assumed Mantle Ridge’s obligation to pay Mr. Harrison, prior to March 15, 2018, a lump sum cash amount of $29 million in respect of other forfeited compensation from his previous employer, Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (“CP”). The Company also assumed Mantle Ridge’s tax indemnification obligations to Mr. Harrison, which enables him to remain in the same after-tax position as if he had not: (i) forfeited such compensation and benefits earned from CP; and (ii) received $55 million from Mantle Ridge. NOTE 1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies, continued The ownership position of Mantle Ridge, a CSX shareholder, is detailed in the Company's Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 20, 2017 and subsequent Form 4 filings with the SEC. The Vice-Chairman of CSX's Board of Directors, Paul C. Hilal, founded and controls Mantle Ridge and each of its related entities. At the Company's 2017 annual meeting of shareholders held on June 5, 2017, the Company's shareholders approved, on an advisory basis, with approximately 93 percent of the vote, the Company undertaking such reimbursement arrangements. Restructuring Charge In first quarter 2017, the former CEO and President of the Company announced their retirements, and the terms of their unvested equity awards were modified to permit prorated vesting through May 31, 2018. The total restructuring charge includes costs related to the management workforce reduction, reimbursement arrangements, the proration of equity awards and other advisory costs related to the leadership transition. Future charges related to this restructuring are not expected to be material. Expenses related to the management workforce reduction and other costs are shown in the following table.
| 2017
(Dollars in millions) | First Quarter | Second Quarter | Third Quarter | Year-to-Date
Severance | $ | 81 |  | $ | 10 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 91 |
Pension, Other Post-retirement Benefit and Other Non-cash Charges | 68 |  | 10 |  | — |  | 78 |
Relocation | 6 |  | 2 |  | — |  | 8 |
Subtotal Management Workforce Reduction | $ | 155 |  | $ | 22 |  | $ | — |  | $ | 177 |
Reimbursement Arrangements | — |  | 84 |  | — |  | 84 |
Non-cash Executive Equity Awards Proration | 8 |  | 16 |  | — |  | 24 |
Other Charges Including Fees Related to Shareholder Matters | 10 |  | — |  | 1 |  | 11 |
Total Restructuring Charge | $ | 173 |  | $ | 122 |  | $ | 1 |  | $ | 296 |
Charges and payments related to the management workforce reduction and other costs are shown in the following table.
(Dollars in millions) | 2017 Charges | 2017 Payments | Non-cash Items | Liability 9/30/2017
Severance | $ | 91 |  | $ | (77 | ) | — |  | $ | 14 |
Pension, Other Post-retirement Benefit and Other Non-cash Charges (a) | 78 |  | — |  | (78 | ) | — |
Relocation | 8 |  | (4 | ) | — |  | 4 |
Subtotal Management Workforce Reduction | $ | 177 |  | $ | (81 | ) | $ | (78 | ) | $ | 18 |
Reimbursement Arrangements | 84 |  | (55 | ) | — |  | 29 |
Non-cash Executive Equity Awards Proration | 24 |  | — |  | (24 | ) | — |
Other Charges Including Fees Related to Shareholder Matters | 11 |  | (11 | ) | — |  | — |
Total Restructuring Charge | $ | 296 |  | $ | (147 | ) | $ | (102 | ) | $ | 47 |
(a) The majority of non-cash items are related to certain benefits paid through CSX's qualified pension plans.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure, and significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122149 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2197479 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122369 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2134479 + Details
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