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Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements represent the consolidation of all wholly-owned companies, majority-owned companies and joint ventures in which the Company has been determined to be the primary beneficiary. The Company consolidates a variable interest entity (“VIE”) if the Company determines it is the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the party that has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that potentially could be significant to the VIE. The Company also consolidates all entities that are not considered VIEs if it is determined that the Company has a controlling voting interest to direct the activities that most significantly impact the joint venture or entity. The Company records investments in all other affiliate companies using the equity method of accounting when it has significant influence. Other investments, including those representing an ownership interest of less than 20%, are recorded at cost. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The estimates made by management primarily relate to accounts and notes receivable, inventories, deferred income tax valuation allowances, uncertain tax positions, goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets, and certain accrued liabilities, principally relating to reserves for volume discounts and sales incentives, warranty obligations, product liability and workers’ compensation obligations, and pensions and postretirement benefits.

Foreign Currency Transaction

Foreign Currency Translation

The financial statements of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated into United States currency in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 830, “Foreign Currency Matters.” Assets and liabilities are translated to United States dollars at period-end exchange rates. Income and expense items are translated at average rates of exchange prevailing during the period. Translation adjustments are included in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” in stockholders’ equity within the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Gains and losses, which result from foreign currency transactions, are included in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company changed the functional currency of its wholly-owned subsidiary from the Argentinian peso to the U.S. dollar effective July 1, 2018.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash and cash equivalents reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 and cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 are as follows (in millions):



	December 31, 2019		December 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Cash⁽¹⁾	$	412.3	$	290.5	$	317.0
Cash equivalents⁽²⁾	17.3		35.6		50.7
Restricted cash⁽³⁾	3.2		—		—
Total	$	432.8	$	326.1	$	367.7

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(1) Consisted primarily of cash on hand and bank deposits.

(2) Consisted primarily of money market deposits, certificates of deposits and overnight investments. The Company considers all investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

(3) Consisted primarily of cash in escrow or held as guarantee to support specific requirements.

Accounts and Notes Receivable

Accounts and notes receivable arise from the sale of equipment and replacement parts to independent dealers, distributors or other customers. In the United States and Canada, amounts due from sales to dealers are immediately due upon a retail sale of the underlying equipment by the dealer with the exception of sales of grain storage and protein production systems as discussed further below. If not previously paid by the dealer in the United States and Canada, installment payments are required generally beginning after the interest-free period with the remaining outstanding equipment balance generally due within 12 months after shipment or delivery. These interest-free periods vary by product and generally range from one to 12 months. In limited circumstances, the Company provides sales terms, and in some cases, interest-free periods that are longer than 12 months for certain products. These are typically specified programs predominately in the United States and Canada, that allow for interest-free periods and due dates of up to 24 months for certain products depending on the year of the sale and the dealer or distributor’s ordering or sales volume during the preceding year. Interest generally is charged at or above prime lending rates on the outstanding receivable balances after shipment or delivery and after interest-free periods. Sales terms of some highly seasonal products provide for payment and due dates based on a specified date during the year regardless of the shipment date. Equipment sold to dealers in the United States and Canada is paid in full on average within 12 months of shipment. Sales of replacement parts generally are payable within 30 days of shipment, with terms for some larger, seasonal stock orders generally requiring payment within six months of shipment. Under normal circumstances, equipment may not be returned. In certain regions, with respect to most equipment sales, including the United States and Canada, the Company is obligated to repurchase equipment and replacement parts upon cancellation of a dealer or distributor contract. These obligations are required by national, state or provincial laws and require the Company to repurchase a dealer or distributor’s unsold inventory, including inventories for which the receivable already has been paid. Actual interest-free periods are shorter than described above because the equipment receivable from dealers or distributors in some countries, such as in the United States and Canada, is generally due immediately upon sale of the equipment to a retail customer as discussed above. Receivables can also be paid prior to terms specified in sales agreements. Under normal circumstances, interest is not forgiven and interest-free periods are not extended.

In other international markets, equipment sales generally are payable in full within 30 days to 180 days of shipment or delivery. Payment terms for some highly seasonal products have a specified due date during the year regardless of the shipment or delivery date. For sales in most markets outside of the United States and Canada, the Company generally does not charge interest on outstanding receivables with its dealers and distributors. Sales of replacement parts generally are payable within 30 days to 90 days of shipment, with terms for some larger, seasonal stock orders generally payable within six months of shipment.

In certain markets, there is a time lag, which varies based on the timing and level of retail demand, between the date the Company records a sale and when the dealer sells the equipment to a retail customer.

Sales of grain storage and protein production systems generally are payable within 30 days of shipment. In certain countries, sales of such systems in which the Company is responsible for construction or installation may be contingent upon customer acceptance, payment terms vary by market and product, with fixed payment schedules on all sales.

The following summarizes by geographic region, as a percentage of our consolidated net sales, amounts with maximum interest-free periods as presented below (in millions):



Year Ended December 31, 2019	North America		South America		Europe/Middle East		Asia/Pacific/Africa		Consolidated
0 to 6 months	$	1,535.0	$	802.2	$	5,317.8	$	718.5	$	8,373.5	92.6	%
7 to 12 months	645.0		—		11.1		—		656.1		7.3	%
13 to 24 months	11.8		—		—		—		11.8		0.1	%
	$	2,191.8	$	802.2	$	5,328.9	$	718.5	$	9,041.4	100.0	%

The Company has an agreement to permit transferring, on an ongoing basis, a majority of its wholesale interest-bearing and non-interest bearing accounts receivable in North America, Europe and Brazil to its U.S., Canadian, European and Brazilian finance joint ventures. Qualified dealers may obtain additional financing through the Company’s U.S., Canadian, European and Brazilian finance joint ventures at the joint ventures’ discretion.

The Company provides various volume bonus and sales incentive programs with respect to its products. These sales incentive programs include reductions in invoice prices, reductions in retail financing rates, dealer commissions and dealer incentive allowances. In most cases, incentive programs are established and communicated to the Company’s dealers on a quarterly basis. The incentives are paid either at the time of the cash settlement of the receivable (which is generally at the time of retail sale), at the time of retail financing, at the time of warranty registration, or at a subsequent time based on dealer purchase volumes. The incentive programs are product-line specific and generally do not vary by dealer. The cost of sales incentives associated with dealer commissions and dealer incentive allowances is estimated based upon the terms of the programs and historical experience, is based on a percentage of the sales price, and estimates for sales incentives are made and recorded at the time of sale for expected incentive programs using the expected value method. These estimates are reassessed each reporting period and are revised in the event of subsequent modifications to incentive programs, as they are communicated to dealers. The related provisions and accruals are made on a product or product-line basis and are monitored for adequacy and revised at least quarterly in the event of subsequent modifications to the programs. Interest rate subsidy payments, which are a reduction in retail finance rates, are recorded in the same manner as dealer commissions and dealer incentive allowances. Volume discounts are estimated and recognized based on historical experience, and related reserves are monitored and adjusted based on actual dealer purchase volumes and the dealer’s progress towards achieving specified cumulative target levels. All incentive programs are recorded and presented as a reduction of revenue, due to the fact that the Company does not receive a distinct good or service in exchange for the consideration provided. In the United States and Canada, reserves for incentive programs related to accounts receivable not sold to Company’s U.S. and Canadian finance joint ventures are recorded as “accounts receivable allowances” within the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets due to the fact that the incentives are paid through a reduction of future cash settlement of the receivable. Globally, reserves for incentive programs that will be paid in cash or credit memos, as is the case with most of the Company’s volume discount programs, as well as sales with incentives associated with accounts receivable sold to its finance joint ventures, are recorded within “Accrued expenses” within the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Accounts and notes receivable are shown net of allowances for sales incentive discounts available to dealers and for doubtful accounts. Cash flows related to the collection of receivables are reported within “Cash flows from operating activities” within the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Accounts and notes receivable allowances at December 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in millions):



	2019		2018
Sales incentive discounts	$	25.7	$	24.2
Doubtful accounts	28.8		31.7
	$	54.5	$	55.9

In the United States and Canada, sales incentives can be paid through future cash settlements of receivables and through credit memos to Company’s dealers or through reductions in retail financing rates paid to the Company’s finance joint ventures. Outside of the United States and Canada, sales incentives can be paid through cash or credit memos to the Company’s dealers or through reductions in retail financing rates paid to the Company’s finance joint ventures. The Company transfers certain accounts receivable under its accounts receivable sales agreements with its finance joint ventures (see Note 4). The Company records such transfers as sales of accounts receivable when it is considered to have surrendered control of such

receivables under the provisions of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-16, “Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860): Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets.” Cash payments made to the Company’s finance joint ventures for sales incentive discounts provided to dealers related to outstanding accounts receivables sold are recorded within “Accrued expenses.”

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value, using the first-in, first-out method. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had recorded $178.6 million and $156.6 million, respectively, as an adjustment for surplus and obsolete inventories. These adjustments are reflected within “Inventories, net” within the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Recoverable Indirect Taxes [Text Block]

Recoverable Indirect Taxes

The Company’s Brazilian operations incur value added taxes (“VAT”) on certain purchases of raw materials, components and services. These taxes are accumulated as tax credits and create assets that are reduced by the VAT collected from the Company’s sales in the Brazilian market. The Company regularly assesses the recoverability of these tax credits, and establishes reserves when necessary against them, through analyses that include, amongst others, the history of realization, the transfer of tax credits to third parties as authorized by the government, anticipated changes in the supply chain and the future expectation of tax debits from the Company’s ongoing operations. The Company believes that these tax credits, net of established reserves, are realizable. The Company had recorded approximately $142.3 million and $156.0 million, respectively, of VAT tax credits, net of reserves, as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of ten to 40 years for buildings and improvements, three to 15 years for machinery and equipment and three to ten years for furniture and fixtures. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.

Goodwill, Other Intangible Assets and Long-Lived Assets

The Company tests goodwill for impairment, at the reporting unit level, annually and when events or circumstances indicate that fair value of a reporting unit may be below its carrying value. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment, for example, a component. The Company combines and aggregates two or more components of an operating segment as a single reporting unit if the components have similar economic characteristics. The Company’s reportable segments are not its reporting units.

Goodwill is evaluated annually as of October 1 for impairment using a qualitative assessment or a quantitative one-step assessment. If the Company elects to perform a qualitative assessment and determines the fair value of its reporting units more likely than not exceed the carrying value of their net assets, no further evaluation is necessary. For reporting units where the Company performs a one-step quantitative assessment, the Company compares the fair value of each reporting unit, which is determined based on a combination of a discounted cash flow valuation approach and a market multiple valuation approach, to its respective carrying value of net assets, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value of net assets, the goodwill is not considered impaired. If the carrying value of net assets is higher than the fair value of the reporting unit, the impairment charge is the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value in accordance with ASU 2017-04.

The Company reviews its long-lived assets, which include intangible assets subject to amortization, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The evaluation for recoverability is performed at a level where independent cash flows may be attributed to either an asset or asset group. If the Company determines that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group is not recoverable based on the expected undiscounted future cash flows of the asset or asset group, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the excess of the carrying amounts over the estimated fair value of the long-lived assets. Estimates of future cash flows are based on many factors, including current operating results, expected market trends and competitive influences. The Company also evaluates the amortization periods assigned to its intangible assets to determine whether events or changes in circumstances warrant revised estimates of useful lives. Assets to be disposed of by sale are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value, less estimated costs to sell.

Amortization of certain Intangible Assets

The Company’s goodwill impairment analysis conducted as of October 1, 2019 indicated that the carrying value of the net assets of the Company’s grain storage and protein production systems operations in Europe/Middle East was in excess of the fair value of the reporting unit, and therefore, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $173.6 million within “Impairment charges” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. In response to weakening market conditions and resulting operating results, new management was put in place over the grain storage and protein productions systems business, tasked with conducting a full strategic review of the business, including that of the Europe/Middle East reporting unit. That full strategic review was completed in the fourth quarter of 2019, along with revised forecasts to include updated market conditions and strategic operating decisions.

During the three months ended December 31, 2019, the Company also recorded a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $3.0 million within “Impairment charges” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. The impairment charge related to certain long-lived intangible assets associated with the Company’s grain storage and protein production systems operations within North America, due to the discontinuation of a certain brand name and related product, and customers.

The results of the Company’s goodwill and long-lived assets impairment analyses conducted as of October 1, 2018 and 2017 indicated that no reduction in the carrying amount of the Company’s goodwill and long-lived assets was required.

The Company’s accumulated goodwill impairment is approximately $354.1 million related to impairment charges the Company recorded during 2019, 2012 and 2006 pertaining to its grain storage and protein production systems business in Europe/Middle East, its Chinese harvesting reporting unit and its former sprayer reporting unit, respectively. The Company’s grain storage and protein production systems Europe/Middle East reporting unit operates within the Europe/Middle East geographical reportable segment. The Chinese harvesting business operates within the Asia/Pacific/Africa geographical reportable segment and the former sprayer reporting unit operates within the North American geographical reportable segment.

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 are summarized as follows (in millions):



	North America			South America			Europe/Middle East			Asia/Pacific/Africa			Consolidated
Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	543.9		$	138.8		$	581.9		$	111.8		$	1,376.4
Acquisitions	67.2			—			17.4			—			84.6
Foreign currency translation	—			(2.4		)	71.7			11.1			80.4
Balance as of December 31, 2017	611.1			136.4			671.0			122.9			1,541.4
Adjustments	—			—			8.4			—			8.4
Foreign currency translation	—			(19.7		)	(29.8		)	(4.8		)	(54.3		)
Balance as of December 31, 2018	611.1			116.7			649.6			118.1			1,495.5
Impairment charge	—			—			(173.6		)	—			(173.6		)
Sale of a joint venture	(5.1		)	—			—			—			(5.1		)
Foreign currency translation	—			(4.5		)	(12.7		)	(1.3		)	(18.5		)
Balance as of December 31, 2019	$	606.0		$	112.2		$	463.3		$	116.8		$	1,298.3

The Company amortizes certain acquired identifiable intangible assets primarily on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which range from five to 50 years. The acquired intangible assets have a weighted average useful life as follows:



Intangible Assets	Weighted-Average Useful Life
Patents and technology	12	years
Customer relationships	13	years
Trademarks and trade names	20	years
Land use rights	45	years

Warranty Reserves

The Company’s agricultural equipment products generally are under warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one to four years. The Company accrues for future warranty costs at the time of sale based on historical warranty experience. Approximately $60.9 million and $52.3 million of warranty reserves are included in “Other noncurrent liabilities” in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The Company recognizes recoveries of the costs associated with warranties it provides when the collection is probable. When specifics of the recovery have been agreed upon with the Company’s suppliers through confirmation of liability for the recovery, the Company records the recovery within “Accounts and notes receivable, net.” Estimates of the amount of warranty claim recoveries to be received from the Company’s suppliers based upon contractual supplier arrangements are recorded within “Other current assets.”

Insurance Reserves

Under the Company’s insurance programs, coverage is obtained for significant liability limits as well as those risks required to be insured by law or contract. It is the policy of the Company to self-insure a portion of certain expected losses primarily related to workers’ compensation and comprehensive general liability, product and vehicle liability. Provisions for losses expected under these programs are recorded based on the Company’s estimates of the aggregate liabilities for the claims incurred.

Revenue

The Company adopted ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach.

Revenue is recognized when the Company satisfies the performance obligation by transferring control over goods or services to a dealer, distributor or other customer. The amount of revenue recognized is measured as the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services pursuant to a contract with the customer. A contract exists once the Company receives and accepts a purchase order under a dealer sales agreement, or once the Company enters into a contract with an end user. The Company does not recognize revenue in cases where collectability is not probable, and defers the recognition until collection is probable or payment is received.

The Company generates revenue from the manufacture and distribution of agricultural equipment and replacement parts. Sales of equipment and replacement parts, which represents a majority of the Company’s net sales, are recorded by the Company at the point in time when title and control have been transferred to an independent dealer, distributor or other customer. Title generally passes to the dealer or distributor upon shipment or specified delivery, and the risk of loss upon damage, theft or destruction of the equipment is the responsibility of the dealer, distributor or designated third-party carrier. The Company believes control passes and the performance obligation is satisfied at the point of the stated shipping or delivery term with respect to such sales.

As previously discussed, the amount of consideration the Company receives and the revenue recognized varies with certain sales incentives the Company offers to dealers and distributors. Estimates for sales incentives are made at the time of sale for expected incentive programs using the expected value method. These estimates are revised in the event of subsequent

modification to the incentive program. All incentive programs are recorded and presented as a reduction of revenue, due to the fact that the Company does not receive a distinct good or service in exchange for the consideration provided.

Dealers or distributors may not return equipment or replacement parts while its contract with the Company is in force, except for under established promotional and annual replacement parts return programs. At the time of sale, the Company estimates the amount of returns based on the terms of promotional and annual return programs and anticipated returns in the future.

Sales and other related taxes are excluded from the transaction price. Shipping and handling costs associated with freight activities after the customer has obtained control are accounted for as fulfillment costs and are expensed and accrued at the time revenue is recognized in “Cost of goods sold” and “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company applied the practical expedient in ASU 2014-09 to not adjust the amount of revenue to be recognized under a contract with a dealer, distributor or other customer for the time value of money when the difference between the receipt of payment and the recognition of revenue is less than one year.

Although, substantially all revenue is recognized at a point in time, a relatively insignificant amount of installation revenue associated with the sale of grain storage and protein production systems is recognized on an “over time” basis as discussed below. The Company also recognizes revenue “over time” with respect to extended warranty or maintenance contracts and certain technology services. Generally, all of the contracts with customers that relate to “over time” revenue recognition have contract durations of less than 12 months.

Grain Storage and Protein Production Systems Installation Revenue. In certain countries, the Company sells grain storage and protein production systems where the Company is responsible for construction and installation, and the sale is contingent upon customer acceptance. Under these conditions, the revenues are recognized over the term of the contract when the Company can objectively determine control has been transferred to the customer in accordance with agreed-upon specifications in the contract. For these contracts, the Company may be entitled to receive an advance payment, which is recognized as a contract liability for the amount in excess of the revenue recognized. The Company uses the input method using costs incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion to measure the progress toward satisfaction of the performance obligation. Revenues are recorded proportionally as costs are incurred. Costs include labor, material and overhead. The estimation of the progress toward completion is subject to various assumptions. As part of the estimation process, the Company reviews the length of time to complete the performance obligation, the cost of materials and labor productivity. If a significant change in one of the assumptions occurs, then the Company will recognize an adjustment under the cumulative catch-up method and the impact of the adjustment on the revenue recorded to date is recognized in the period the adjustment is identified.

Extended Warranty Contracts. The Company sells separately priced extended warranty contracts, which extends coverage beyond the base warranty period. Revenue is recognized for the extended warranty contract on a straight-line basis, which the Company believes approximates the costs expected to be incurred in satisfying the obligations, over the extended warranty period. The extended warranty period ranges from one to five years. Payment is received at the inception of the extended warranty contract, which is recognized as a contract liability for the amount in excess of the revenue recognized. The revenue associated with the sale of extended warranty contracts is insignificant.

Technology Services Revenue. The Company sells a combination of technology products and services. When the bundled package of technology products and services is sold, the portion of the consideration received related to the services component is recognized over time as the Company satisfies the future performance obligation. Revenue is recognized for the hardware component when control is transferred to the dealer or distributor. The revenue associated with the sale of technology services is insignificant

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses are expensed as incurred and are included in engineering expenses in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred. Cooperative advertising costs normally are expensed at the time the revenue is earned.

Shipping and Handling Expenses

All shipping and handling fees charged to customers are included as a component of net sales, and are associated with freight activities after the customer has obtained control. Shipping and handling costs are accounted for as fulfillment costs and are expensed and accrued at the time revenue is recognized within “Cost of goods sold,” with the exception of certain handling costs included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the amount of $38.9 million, $37.9 million and $35.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. See Note 6 for additional information regarding the Company’s income taxes.

Net Income Per Common Share

Basic net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted net income per common share assumes the exercise of outstanding stock-settled stock appreciation rights (“SSARs”) and the vesting of performance share awards and restricted stock units using the treasury stock method when the effects of such assumptions are dilutive.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The Company reports comprehensive income (loss), defined as the total of net income (loss) and all other non-owner changes in equity, and the components thereof in its Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Derivatives

The Company uses foreign currency contracts to hedge the foreign currency exposure of certain receivables and payables. The contracts are for periods consistent with the exposure being hedged and generally have maturities of one year or less. These contracts are classified as non-designated derivative instruments. The Company also enters into foreign currency contracts designated as cash flow hedges of expected sales. The Company’s foreign currency contracts mitigate risk due to exchange rate fluctuations because gains and losses on these contracts generally offset losses and gains on the exposure being hedged. The notional amounts of the foreign currency contracts do not represent amounts exchanged by the parties and, therefore, are not a measure of the Company’s risk. The amounts exchanged are calculated on the basis of the notional amounts and other terms of the contracts. The credit and market risks under these contracts are not considered to be significant.

The Company’s interest expense is, in part, sensitive to the general level of interest rates, and the Company manages its exposure to interest rate risk through the mix of floating rate and fixed rate debt. From time to time, the Company enters into interest rate swap agreements in order to manage the Company’s exposure to interest rate fluctuations.

The Company uses non-derivative and, periodically, derivative instruments to hedge a portion of the Company’s net investment in foreign operations against adverse movements in exchange rates.

The Company’s hedging policy prohibits it from entering into any foreign currency contracts for speculative trading purposes. See Note 11 for additional information regarding the Company’s derivative instruments and hedging activities.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (“ASU 2017-04”), which eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under the standard, an entity should perform its goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, resulting in an impairment charge that is the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. The impairment charge, however, should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to a reporting unit. The impairment assessment under ASU 2017-04 applies to all reporting units, including those with a zero or negative carrying amount. ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods using a prospective approach. Early adoption is permitted for any interim or annual goodwill impairment test performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company adopted ASU 2017-04 during the fourth quarter of 2019 and applied the standard to its annual impairment test performed as of October 1, 2019.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases” (“ASU 2016-02”), which superseded the existing lease guidance under current U.S. GAAP. ASU 2016-02 is based on the principle that entities should recognize assets and liabilities arising from leases. The new standard does not significantly change the lessees’ recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows from the previous accounting standard and leases continue to be classified as finance or operating. The primary change under ASU 2016-02 is the requirement for entities to recognize a lease liability for payments and a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset representing the right to use the leased asset during the term of an operating lease arrangement. Lessees were permitted to make an accounting policy election to not recognize the asset and liability for leases with a term of 12 months or less. Lessors’ accounting under the new standard was largely unchanged from the previous accounting standard. In addition, ASU 2016-02 expanded the disclosure requirements of lease arrangements. Upon adoption, lessees and lessors were required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, “Targeted Improvements,” which allowed for a new, optional transition method that provided the option to use the effective date as the date of initial application on transition. Under this option, the comparative periods continued to apply the legacy guidance in ASC 840, including the disclosure requirements, and a cumulative effect adjustment was recognized in the period of adoption rather than the earliest period presented. Under this transition option, comparative reporting was not required and the provisions of the standard was applied prospectively to leases in effect at the date of adoption.

The Company adopted the new guidance effective January 1, 2019 using a modified retrospective approach and no cumulative effect adjustment was recorded upon adoption. Based on the Company’s current lease portfolio, the adoption of the standard as of January 1, 2019 resulted in the recognition on that date of ROU assets and operating lease liabilities in the amount of approximately $194.2 million and $196.4 million, respectively, in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The adoption of the new standard did not materially impact the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations or Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

ASU 2016-02 provided a number of optional practical expedients in transition. The Company elected the “package of practical expedients” which permitted the Company not to reassess its prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. The Company elected the short-term lease exemption for all leases with a term of 12 months or less for both existing and ongoing operating leases. The Company elected the practical expedient to separate lease and non-lease components for a majority of its operating leases, other than real estate and office equipment leases.

In connection with the adoption of ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019, the Company completed the design of new processes and internal controls, which included the implementation of a software solution and the cataloging of the Company’s existing and ongoing population of leased assets. See Note 17 for additional information and related disclosures.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2016-13”), which requires measurement and recognition of expected versus incurred credit losses for financial assets held. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods as the adoption of the standard relates to the Company. In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2019-04”), which provides, among other things, targeted improvements to certain aspects of accounting for credit losses addressed by ASU 2016-13. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-11, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326), Financial Instruments - Credit Losses,” which clarifies the treatment of expected recoveries for amounts previously written-off on purchased receivables, provides transition relief for troubled debt restructurings and allows for certain disclosure simplifications of accrued interest. The effective dates for both ASU 2019-04 and ASU 2019-11 are the same as the effective dates for ASU 2016-13. The Company adopted this standard, and its subsequent modifications, as of January 1, 2020. The adoption did not have a material impact to the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

The Company also adopted the following pronouncements in 2019, none of which had a material effect on its results of operations, financial condition and cash flows:


•	ASU 2018-02 - “Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income”


•	ASU 2018-13 - “Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement”

New Accounting Pronouncements to be Adopted

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes,” which simplifies various aspects related to accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions for investments, intraperiod allocations and interim calculations, and adding guidance to reduce complexity in accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those annual periods using a prospective approach. Early adoption is permitted. Depending on the amendment, adoption may be applied on the retrospective, modified retrospective or prospective basis. The standard will not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

As discussed above, in June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, which requires measurement and recognition of expected versus incurred credit losses for financial assets held. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates,” which delays the effective date of ASU 2016-13 for smaller reporting companies and other non-SEC reporting entities. This applies to the Company’s equity method finance joint ventures who are now required to adopt ASU 2016-13 for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022 and interim periods within those annual periods. The standard, and its subsequent modification, will likely impact the results of operations and financial condition of the Company’s finance joint ventures. Therefore, adoption of the standard by the Company’s finance joint ventures will likely impact the Company’s “Investment in affiliates” and “Equity in net earnings of affiliates.” The Company’s finance joint ventures are currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-13 to their results of operations and financial condition.