NOTE 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of presentation: The consolidated financial statements consist of the accounts of the Company, including all significant subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

The preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Such estimates include the value of purchase consideration, valuation of accounts receivable, inventories, goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, legal contingencies, guarantee obligations, and assumptions used in the calculation of income taxes, and pension and other postretirement benefits, among others. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and judgment. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Management will adjust such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Foreign currency devaluations, corn price volatility, access to difficult credit markets, and adverse changes in the global economic environment have combined to increase the uncertainty inherent in such estimates and assumptions. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Changes in these estimates will be reflected in the financial statements in future periods.

Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries, other than those whose functional currency is the U.S. dollar, are translated at current exchange rates with the related translation adjustments reported in equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Income statement accounts are translated at the average exchange rate during the period. However, significant non-recurring items related to a specific event are recognized at the exchange rate on the date of the significant event. The U.S. dollar is the functional currency for the Company’s subsidiaries in Mexico and as of July 1, 2018, in Argentina. In the second quarter of 2018, the Argentine peso rapidly devalued relative to the U.S. dollar, which along with increased inflation, resulted in a three-year cumulative inflation in that country exceeded 100 percent as of June 30, 2018. As a result, the Company elected to adopt highly inflationary accounting as of July 1, 2018 for its Argentina affiliate in accordance with GAAP. Under highly inflationary accounting, Argentina’s functional currency becomes the U.S. dollar. For foreign subsidiaries where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, monetary assets and liabilities are translated at current exchange rates with the related adjustment included in net income. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at historical exchange rates. Although the Company hedges the predominance of its transactional foreign exchange risk (see Note 6), the Company incurs foreign currency transaction gains and losses relating to assets and liabilities that are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency. For 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company incurred foreign currency transaction net losses of $14 million, $5 million, and $3 million, respectively. The Company’s accumulated other comprehensive loss included in equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets includes cumulative translation losses of $1.1 billion and $1 billion at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Cash and cash equivalents: Cash equivalents consist of all instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less, and which have virtually no risk of loss in value.

Accounts receivable, net: Accounts receivable, net, consist of trade and other receivables carried at approximate fair value, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts based on specific identification of material amounts at risk and a general reserve based on historical collection experience.

Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Costs are predominantly determined using the weighted average method.

Investments: Investments are included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company holds equity and cost method investments, and equity securities as of December 31, 2018. Investments that enable the Company to exercise significant influence, but do not represent a controlling interest, are accounted for under the equity method; such investments are carried at cost, adjusted to reflect the Company’s proportionate share of income or loss, less dividends received. In December 2018, the Company entered into a $15 million equity method investment with Verdient Foods, Inc., a Canadian company based in Vanscoy, Saskatchewan. Investments are being made within the existing facility to make pulse-based protein concentrates and flours from peas, lentils and fava beans for human food applications. The Company did not have any investments accounted for under the equity method at December 31, 2017. The Company has equity interests in the CME Group Inc. and CBOE Holdings, Inc., which are classified as available for sale securities. The investments are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recorded to Other income, net in accordance with ASC 825. Investments in the common stock of affiliated companies over which the Company does not exercise significant influence are accounted for under the cost method. In 2016, the Company invested in SweeGen Inc., which it accounts for under the cost method and which had a carrying value of $2 million as of both December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Leases: The Company leases rail cars, certain machinery and equipment, and office space. The Company classifies its leases as either capital or operating based on the terms of the related lease agreement and the criteria contained in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 840, Leases, and related interpretations.

Property, plant and equipment and depreciation: Property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”) are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is generally computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of depreciable assets, which range from 25 to 50 years for buildings and from two to 25 years for all other assets. Where permitted by law, accelerated depreciation methods are used for tax purposes. The Company recognized depreciation expense of $217 million, $179 million, and $171 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. The Company reviews the recoverability of the net book value of PP&E for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable from estimated future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. If this review indicates that the carrying values will not be recovered, the carrying values would be reduced to fair value and an impairment loss would be recognized. As required under accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., the impairment analysis for long-lived assets occurs before the goodwill impairment assessment described below.

Goodwill and other intangible assets: ASC Topic 350 requires that an entity test its goodwill balance for impairment at the reporting unit level at least annually. Historically, the Company has performed this test on October 1, the first day of its fourth quarter. During the first half of 2018, the Company elected to change the timing of its annual goodwill impairment test and annual indefinite-lived intangibles impairment test from the first day of the fourth quarter to the first day of the third quarter. Management believes this voluntary change is preferable as the timing of its annual impairment testing will better align with its annual strategic planning process. This impairment test date change was applied prospectively beginning on July 1, 2018 and had no effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Goodwill ($791 million and $803 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively) represents the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the fair value assigned to identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The Company also has other intangible assets of $460 million and $493 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The carrying value of goodwill by reportable business segment at December 31, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:


	North			South		Asia
(in millions)	America			America		Pacific		EMEA		Total
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	610		$	26	$	85	$	63	$	784
Acquisitions		(10)	(a)		—		15		—		5
Currency translation		—			—		7		7		14
Balance at December 31, 2017		600			26		107		70		803
Acquisitions		—			—		—		—		—
Currency translation		—			(4)		(3)		(5)		(12)
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	600		$	22	$	104	$	65	$	791

(a)

Related to TIC Gums Incorporated (“TIC Gums”) purchase price accounting adjustments

The original carrying value of goodwill by reportable business segment and accumulated impairment charges by reportable business segment at December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:


	North		South		Asia
(in millions)	America		America		Pacific		EMEA		Total
Goodwill before impairment charges	$	601	$	59	$	228	$	70	$	958
Accumulated impairment charges		(1)		(33)		(121)		—		(155)
Balance at December 31, 2017		600		26		107		70		803

Goodwill before impairment charges		601		55		225		65		946
Accumulated impairment charges		(1)		(33)		(121)		—		(155)
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	600	$	22	$	104	$	65	$	791

The following table summarizes the Company’s other intangible assets for the periods presented:


	As of December 31, 2018
(in millions)	Gross		Accumulated Amortization		Net		Weighted Average Useful Life (years)
Trademarks/tradenames (indefinite-lived)	$	178	$	—	$	178	—
Customer relationships		325		(77)		248	20
Technology		103		(80)		23	9
Other		21		(10)		11	16
Total other intangible assets	$	627	$	(167)	$	460	18

	As of December 31, 2017
(in millions)	Gross		Accumulated Amortization		Net		Weighted Average Useful Life (years)
Trademarks/tradenames (indefinite-lived)	$	178	$	—	$	178	—
Customer relationships		329		(62)		267	20
Technology		103		(68)		35	9
Other		22		(9)		13	16
Total other intangible assets	$	632	$	(139)	$	493	18

For definite-lived intangible assets, the Company recognizes the cost of such amortizable assets in operations over their estimated useful lives and evaluates the recoverability of the assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. Amortization expense related to intangible assets was $30 million in 2018, $30 million in 2017, and $25 million in 2016.

Based on acquisitions completed through December 31, 2018, intangible asset amortization expense for the next five years is shown below.


(in millions)
Year	Amortization Expense
2019	$	29
2020		27
2021		19
2022		18
2023		18
Balance thereafter		171

The Company assesses goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually (or more frequently if impairment indicators arise). The Company has chosen to perform this annual impairment assessment as of July 1 of each year.

In testing goodwill for impairment, the Company first assesses qualitative factors in determining whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. After assessing the qualitative factors, if the Company determines that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount then the Company does not perform the two-step impairment test. If the Company concludes otherwise, then it performs the first step of the two-step impairment test as described in ASC Topic 350. In the first step (“Step One”), the fair value of the reporting unit is compared to its carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of its net assets, goodwill is not considered impaired and no further testing is required. If the carrying value of the net assets exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, a second step (“Step Two”) of the impairment assessment is performed in order to determine the implied fair value of a reporting unit's goodwill. Determining the implied fair value of goodwill requires a valuation of the reporting unit's tangible and intangible assets and liabilities in a manner similar to the allocation of purchase price in a business combination. If the carrying value of the reporting unit's goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of its goodwill, goodwill is deemed impaired and is written down to the extent of the difference. Based on the results of the annual assessment, the Company concluded that as of July 1, 2018, it was more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting units was greater than their carrying value. The Company continues to monitor its reporting units in struggling economies and recent acquisitions for challenges in the business that may negatively impact the fair value of these reporting units.

In testing indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment, the Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If the Company determines that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount, then it would not be required to compute the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset. In the event the qualitative assessment leads the Company to conclude otherwise, then it would be required to determine the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset and perform the quantitative impairment test in accordance with ASC subtopic 350-30. In performing the qualitative analysis, the Company considers various factors including net sales derived from these intangibles and certain market and industry conditions. Based on the results of its qualitative assessment, the Company concluded that as of July 1, 2018, it was more likely than not that the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets was greater than their carrying value.

Revenue recognition: The Company accounts for revenue in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which was adopted on January 1, 2018, using the full retrospective method. The recently adopted accounting standard is more fully described in the Company's Recently Adopted Accounting Standards and Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Hedging instruments: The Company uses derivative financial instruments principally to offset exposure to market risks arising from changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. Derivative financial instruments used by the Company consist of commodity futures and option contracts, forward currency contracts and options, interest rate swap agreements and Treasury lock agreements (“T-Locks”). The Company enters into futures and option contracts, which are designated as hedges of specific volumes of commodities (primarily corn and natural gas) that will be purchased in a future month. These derivative financial instruments are recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. The Company has also entered into interest rate swap agreements that effectively convert the interest rate on certain fixed rate debt to a variable interest rate and, on certain variable rate debt, to a fixed interest rate. The Company periodically enters into T-Locks to hedge its exposure to interest rate changes. See also Note 6 and Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

On the date a derivative contract is entered into, the Company designates the derivative as either a hedge of variable cash flows to be paid related to interest on variable rate debt, as a hedge of market variation in the benchmark rate for a future fixed rate debt issue, as a hedge of foreign currency cash flows associated with certain forecasted commercial transactions or loans, as a hedge of certain forecasted purchases of corn, natural gas or ethanol used in the manufacturing process (“a cash flow hedge”), or as a hedge of the fair value of certain debt obligations (“a fair value hedge”). This process includes linking all derivatives that are designated as fair value or cash flow hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions. For all hedging relationships, the Company documents the hedging relationships and its risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge transactions, the hedging instrument, the hedged item, the nature of the risk being hedged, how the hedging instrument’s effectiveness in offsetting the hedged risk will be assessed and a description of the method of measuring ineffectiveness. The Company also formally assesses both, at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows or fair values of hedged items. When it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge or has ceased to be a highly effective hedge, the Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively.

Changes in the fair value of floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps, T-Locks, commodity futures, and option contracts or foreign currency forward contracts, swaps, and options that are highly effective and that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges are recorded in other comprehensive income, net of applicable income taxes. Realized gains and losses associated with changes in the fair value of interest rate swaps and T-Locks are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) to the Consolidated Statements of Income over the life of the underlying debt. Gains and losses on hedges of foreign currency cash flows associated with certain forecasted commercial transactions or loans are reclassified from AOCI to the Consolidated Statements of Income when such transactions or obligations are settled. Gains and losses on commodity hedging contracts are reclassified from AOCI to the Consolidated Statement of Income when the finished goods produced using the hedged item are sold. The maximum term over which the Company hedges exposures to the variability of cash flows for commodity price risk is generally 24 months. Changes in the fair value of a fixed-to-floating interest rate swap agreement that is highly effective and that is designated and qualifies as a fair value hedge, along with the loss or gain on the hedged debt obligation, are recorded in earnings. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of a derivative instrument that qualifies as either a cash flow hedge or a fair value hedge is reported in earnings.

The Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when it is determined that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows or fair value of the hedged item, the derivative is de-designated as a hedging instrument because it is unlikely that a forecasted transaction will occur, or management determines that designation of the derivative as a hedging instrument is no longer appropriate. When hedge accounting is discontinued, the Company continues to carry the derivative on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at its fair value, and gains and losses that were included in AOCI are recognized in earnings in the same line item affected by the hedged transaction and in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings, or in the month a hedge is determined to be ineffective.

The Company uses derivative financial instruments such as foreign currency forward contracts, swaps and options to manage the transactional foreign exchange risk that is created when transactions not denominated in the functional currency of the operating unit are revalued. The changes in fair value of these derivative instruments and the offsetting changes in the value of the underlying non-functional currency denominated transactions are recorded in earnings on a monthly basis.

Share-based compensation: The Company has a stock incentive plan that provides for share-based employee compensation, including the granting of stock options, shares of restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance shares to certain key employees. Compensation expense is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the Company’s share-based employee compensation plan. The plan is more fully described in Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Earnings per common share: Basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income attributable to Ingredion by the weighted average number of shares outstanding, which totaled 70.9 million for 2018, 72.0 million for 2017 and 72.3 million for 2016. Diluted EPS is calculated using the treasury stock method, computed by dividing net income attributable to Ingredion by the weighted average number of shares outstanding, including the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options and other instruments associated with long-term incentive compensation plans. The weighted average number of shares outstanding for diluted EPS calculations was 71.8 million, 73.5 million and 74.1 million for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Approximately 0.5 million, 0.3 million, and 0.0 share-based awards of common stock were excluded in 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively, from the calculation of the weighted average number of shares outstanding for diluted EPS because their effects were anti-dilutive.

Risks and uncertainties: The Company operates domestically and internationally. In each country, the business and assets are subject to varying degrees of risk and uncertainty. The Company insures its business and assets in each country against insurable risks in a manner that it deems appropriate. Because of this geographic dispersion, the Company believes that a loss from non-insurable events in any one country would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations as a whole. Additionally, the Company believes there is no significant concentration of risk with any single customer or supplier whose failure or non-performance would materially affect the Company’s results.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606):

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) that introduced a five-step revenue recognition model in which an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU requires disclosures sufficient to enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers, including qualitative and quantitative disclosures about contracts with customers, significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. The FASB also issued additional ASUs to provide further updates and clarification to this Update, including ASU 2015-14, ASU 2016-08, ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-12 and ASU 2016-20. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period.

As of January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and all the related amendments (“new revenue standard”). The Company performed detailed procedures to review its revenue contracts held with its customers and did not identify any changes to the nature, amount, timing or uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from the contracts with customers as a result of the new revenue standard.

The new revenue standard requires the Company to recognize revenue under the core principle to depict the transfer of products to customers in an amount reflecting the consideration the Company expects to receive. In order to achieve that core principle, the Company applies the following five-step approach: (1) identify the contract with a customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (5) recognize revenue when a performance obligation is satisfied.

The Company identified customer purchase orders, which in some cases are governed by a master sales agreement, as the contracts with its customers. For each contract, the Company considers the transfer of products, each of which is distinct, to be the identified performance obligation. In determining the transaction price for the performance obligation, the Company evaluates whether the price is subject to adjustment to determine the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled. The pricing model can be fixed or variable within the contract. The variable pricing model is based on historical commodity pricing and is determinable prior to completion of the performance obligation. Additionally, the Company has certain sales adjustments for volume incentive discounts and other discount arrangements that reduce the transaction price. The reduction of transaction price is estimated using the expected value method based on an analysis of historical volume incentives or discounts, over a period of time considered adequate to account for current pricing and business trends. Historically, actual volume incentives and discounts relative to those estimated and included when determining the transaction price have not materially differed. The product price as specified in the contract, net of any discounts, is considered the standalone selling price as it is an observable input which depicts the price as if sold to a similar customer in similar circumstances. Payment is received shortly after the performance obligation is satisfied, therefore, the Company has elected the practical expedient under ASC 606-10-32-18 to not assess whether a contract has a significant financing component.

Revenue is recognized when the Company’s performance obligation is satisfied and control is transferred to the customer, which occurs at a point in time, either upon delivery to an agreed upon location or to the customer. Further, in determining whether control has transferred, the Company considers if there is a present right to payment and legal title, along with risks and rewards of ownership having transferred to the customer.

Historically, the Company included warehousing costs as a reduction of net sales before shipping and handling costs. In connection with the adoption of the new revenue standard, the Company determined these warehousing costs which were previously included as a reduction in net sales before shipping and handling costs are more appropriately classified as fulfillment activities based on the guidance of ASC 606. Therefore, upon adoption of the new revenue standard, the Company elected to include these costs within shipping and handling costs. The Company has elected to continue to classify shipping and handling costs as a reduction of net sales after implementing the new revenue standard consistent with its historical presentation. The Company has elected to make this adjustment on a retrospective basis, resulting in the change to the Consolidated Statements of Income shown below. The Company notes that the reclassification does not change reported net sales.


	2017				2016
(in millions)	As Reported		As Adjusted		As Reported		As Adjusted
Consolidated Statements of Income:
Net sales before shipping and handling costs	$	6,180	$	6,244	$	6,022	$	6,082
Less: shipping and handling costs		348		412		318		378
Net sales	$	5,832	$	5,832	$	5,704	$	5,704

The Company used the full retrospective method, which requires the restatement of all previously presented financial results. The adoption of the new standard did not result in any retrospective changes to the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Equity and Redeemable Equity, or the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. For detailed information about the Company’s revenue recognition refer to Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715):

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. This Update requires an entity to change the classification of the net periodic benefit cost for pension and postretirement plans within the statement of income by eliminating the ability to net all of the components of the costs together within operating income. The Update requires the service cost component to continue to be presented within operating income, classified within either cost of sales or operating expenses depending on the employees covered within the plan. The remaining components of the net periodic benefit cost, however, must be presented in the statement of income as a non-operating income (loss) below operating income. The Update was effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017.

As of January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the amendments to ASC 715. The Company retrospectively adopted the presentation of service cost separate from the other components of net periodic costs for all periods presented. The interest cost, expected return on assets, amortization of prior service costs, net remeasurement, and other costs have been reclassified from cost of sales and operating expenses to other, non-operating income. The Company elected to apply the practical expedient which allows it to reclassify amounts disclosed previously in the retirement benefits note as the basis for applying retrospective presentation for comparative periods as it is impracticable to determine the disaggregation of the cost components for amounts capitalized and amortized in those periods. On a prospective basis, the other components of net periodic benefit costs will not be included in amounts capitalized in inventory.

The adoption of the new standard did not result in any retrospective changes to the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Equity and Redeemable Equity, or the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The adoption of the new standard impacted the presentation of the Company’s previously reported results in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Note 13 of the Consolidated Financial Statements as follows:


	2017				2016
(in millions)	As Reported		As Adjusted		As Reported		As Adjusted
Consolidated Statements of Income:
Cost of sales	$	4,359	$	4,360	$	4,302	$	4,303
Gross profit		1,473		1,472		1,402		1,401
Operating expenses		611		616		579		580
Operating income		842		836		808		806
Other, non-operating income		-		(6)		-		(2)


	2017				2016
(in millions)	As Reported		As Adjusted		As Reported		As Adjusted
Operating income:
North America	$	661	$	654	$	610	$	606
South America		80		81		89		90
Asia Pacific		112		115		111		113
EMEA		113		114		106		107
Corporate		(82)		(86)		(86)		(88)
Subtotal		884		878		830		828
Total operating income	$	842	$	836	$	808	$	806

Adoption of Highly Inflationary Accounting in Argentina

ASC 830, Foreign Currency Matters requires the use of highly inflationary accounting for countries whose cumulative three-year inflation exceeds 100 percent. The Company has been closely monitoring the inflation data and currency volatility in Argentina, where there are multiple data sources for measuring and reporting inflation. In the second quarter of 2018, the Argentine peso rapidly devalued relative to the U.S. dollar, which along with increased inflation, triggered that the three-year cumulative inflation in that country exceeded 100 percent as of June 30, 2018. As a result, the Company adopted highly inflationary accounting as of July 1, 2018 for its affiliate, Ingredion Argentina S.A. (“Argentina”). Under highly inflationary accounting, Argentina’s functional currency becomes the U.S. dollar, and its income statement and balance sheet will be measured in U.S. dollars using both current and historical rates of exchange. The effect of changes in exchange rates on Argentine peso-denominated monetary assets and liabilities will be reflected in earnings in financing costs. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recognized a $2 million charge related to the remeasurement of Argentina’s balance sheet. Net sales of Argentina were approximately three percent of the Company’s consolidated net sales for the year ended December 31, 2018.

ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10):

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall. The amendments in ASU 2016-01 are intended to improve the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial assets and liabilities to provide users of financial statements with information that is more useful for decision-making purposes. Among other changes, ASU 2016-01 requires equity securities to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized through net income and no longer through other comprehensive income. The Company is required to apply the guidance by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption.

The Company adopted the amendments to ASC 825 by recognizing a $2 million cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings and accumulated other comprehensive income, classified in “other” on the Consolidated Statements of Equity and Redeemable Equity. Prospectively the Company will recognize changes in the fair value of its equity securities through other income, net on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income:

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This Update allows for the reclassification of stranded tax effects on items resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. Tax effects unrelated to the 2017 Tax Act are released from AOCI using either the specific identification approach or the portfolio approach based on the nature of the underlying item. The Company early adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2018-02 during the third quarter of 2018 using the specific identification approach and reclassified $5 million from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings, classified in “other” on the Consolidated Statements of Equity and Redeemable Equity.

New Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes Topic 840, Leases. This Update increases the transparency and comparability of organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for leases longer than 12 months and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee have not significantly changed. The FASB also issued ASU 2018-11 to provide further updates and clarification to this Update. This Update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company will conclude its evaluation on the new guidance in the first quarter of 2019. The Company expects the impact to the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet to be material. The Company is in the process of analyzing existing leases, practical expedients, and deploying its implementation strategy. The Company is also in the process of updating its controls and systems, and is still finalizing the new disclosures required in 2019. The Company will adopt ASU 2016-02 at the beginning of its 2019 fiscal year.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This Update simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill as the Update eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under the Update, an entity will continue to perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test to determine if the fair value of a reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount. An entity should then recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value using the results of its Step 1 assessment, with the loss recognized not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. This Update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. This Update modifies accounting guidance for hedge accounting by making more hedge strategies eligible for hedge accounting, amending presentation and disclosure requirements, and changing how companies assess ineffectiveness. The intent is to simplify the application of hedge accounting and increase transparency of information about an entity’s risk management activities. The amended guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company has competed its assessment of these updates, including potential changes to existing hedging arrangements, and has determined the adoption of the guidance will not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In October 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-16, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Inclusion of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap (OIS) Rate as Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes. This Update permits use of the OIS rate based on the SOFR as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes. The guidance should be adopted on a prospective basis. This Update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is assessing the impact of this new standard; however the adoption of the guidance in this Update is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.