2.	ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Accounting Changes

Pension and other Post Retirement Benefit Plans

At December 31, 2016, the Company changed the method used to estimate the service and interest components of net periodic benefit cost for pension and other postretirement benefits for plans that utilize a yield curve approach. This change compared to the previous method will result in different service and interest components of net periodic benefit cost (credit) in future periods. Historically, the Company estimated these service and interest cost components utilizing a single weighted-average discount rate derived from the yield curve used to measure the benefit obligation at the beginning of the period. The Company elected to utilize a full yield curve approach in the estimation of these components by applying the specific spot rates along the yield curve used in the determination of the benefit obligation to the relevant projected cash flows. The Company made this change to provide a more precise measurement of service and interest costs by improving the correlation between projected benefit cash flows to the corresponding spot yield curve rates. This change does not affect the measurement of the total benefit obligations or annual net periodic benefit cost (credit) as the change in the service and interest costs is completely offset in the net actuarial (gain) loss reported. The change in the service and interest costs was not significant. The Company has accounted for this change as a change in accounting estimate.

Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs

In the first quarter of 2016, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03 “Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs”. This guidance requires that debt issuance costs be presented as a direct reduction to the carrying amount of the related debt in the balance sheet rather than as an asset. Consequently, the Company has reclassified $19 million of deferred debt issuance costs from other assets to long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheet as at December 31, 2015.

Future Accounting Standards

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Topic 606 (ASU 2014-09)”, to supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received for those goods or services. In July 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 [including interim reporting periods within those periods]. ASU 2014-09 is effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 using either of two methods: [i] retrospective to each prior reporting period presented with the option to elect certain practical expedients as defined within ASU 2014-09; or [ii] retrospective with the cumulative effect of initially applying ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of initial application and providing certain additional disclosures as defined per ASU 2014-09. The Company has not yet selected a transition method and continues to evaluate the impact that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In addition, new controls and processes designed to comply with ASU 2014-09 will be implemented and tested throughout 2017 to permit adoption by January 1, 2018.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases: Topic 842 (ASU 2016-02)”, to supersede nearly all existing lease guidance under GAAP. The guidance would require lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets as lease liabilities with corresponding right-of-use assets. ASU 2016-02 is effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 using a modified retrospective approach with the option to elect certain practical expedients. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial statements.

Statement of Cash Flows

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (ASU 2016-18), which provides amendments to current guidance to address the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 is effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 and earlier adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-18 on its consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, Accounting for Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Asset Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory. This guidance requires that the tax effects of all intra-entity sales of assets other than inventory be recognized in the period in which the transaction occurs. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption as of the beginning of an annual reporting period is permitted. The guidance is to be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Goodwill

In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance, ASU No. 2017-4, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the test for Goodwill Impairment. This guidance simplifies subsequent goodwill measurement by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under this update, an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The new standard is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted for annual goodwill impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017. The standard must be applied prospectively. Upon adoption, the standard will impact how the Company assesses goodwill for impairment. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.