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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Change in Segment Reporting

Change in Segment Reporting

 

During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company changed the level of detail at which its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Operating Officer (“COO”) (together, the Chief Operating Decision Maker, or “CODM”) regularly review and manage certain of its businesses, resulting in the bifurcation of its former Fluoroproducts segment into two standalone reportable segments: Thermal & Specialized Solutions (formerly Fluorochemicals) and Advanced Performance Materials (formerly Fluoropolymers). The Company now manages and reports its operating results through four reportable segments: Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, Advanced Performance Materials, and Chemical Solutions. This change allows Chemours to enhance its customer focus and better align its business models, resources, and cost structure to the specific current and future secular growth drivers of each business, while providing increased transparency to the Company’s shareholders. The historical segment information has been recast to conform to the current segment structure.

Preparation of Financial Statements

 

Preparation of Financial Statements

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management’s estimates are based on historical experiences, facts, and circumstances available at the time and various other assumptions that management believes are reasonable. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Principles of Consolidation

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Chemours and its subsidiaries, as well as entities in which a controlling interest is maintained. For those consolidated subsidiaries in which the Company’s ownership is less than 100%, the outside shareholders’ interests are shown as non-controlling interests. Investments in companies in which Chemours, directly or indirectly, owns 20% to 50% of the voting stock, or has the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. As a result, Chemours’ share of the earnings or losses of such equity affiliates is included in the consolidated statements of operations, and Chemours’ share of such equity affiliates’ equity is included in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

The Company assesses the requirements related to the consolidation of any variable interest entity (“VIE”), including a qualitative assessment of power and economics that considers which entity has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and has the right to receive any benefits or the obligation to absorb any losses of the VIE. No such VIE was consolidated by the Company for the periods presented.

 

All intercompany accounts and transactions were eliminated in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Chemours recognizes revenue using a five-step model, resulting in revenue being recognized as performance obligations within a contract have been satisfied. The steps within that model include: (i) identifying the existence of a contract with a customer; (ii) identifying the performance obligations within the contract; (iii) determining the contract’s transaction price; (iv) allocating the transaction price to the contract’s performance obligations; and, (v) recognizing revenue as the contract’s performance obligations are satisfied. A contract with a customer exists when: (i) the Company enters into an enforceable agreement that defines each party’s rights regarding the goods or services to be transferred, and the related payment terms; (ii) the agreement has commercial substance; and, (iii) it is probable that the Company will collect the consideration to which it is entitled in the exchange. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service, or a series of distinct goods or services, to a customer. The transaction price is the customary amount of consideration that the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for a transfer of the promised goods or services to a customer, excluding any amounts collected by the Company on behalf of third parties (e.g., sales and use taxes). Judgment is required to apply the principles-based, five-step model for revenue recognition. Management is required to make certain estimates and assumptions about the Company’s contracts with its customers, including, among others, the nature and extent of its performance obligations, its transaction price amounts and any allocations thereof, the critical events which constitute satisfaction of its performance obligations, and when control of any promised goods or services is transferred to its customers.

 

The Company’s revenue from contracts with customers is reflected in the consolidated statements of operations as net sales, the vast majority of which represents product sales that consist of a single performance obligation. Product sales to customers are made under a purchase order (“PO”), or in certain cases, in accordance with the terms of a master services agreement (“MSA”) or similar arrangement, which documents the rights and obligations of each party to the contract. When a customer submits a PO for product or requests product under an MSA, a contract for a specific quantity of distinct goods at a specified price is created, and the Company’s performance obligation under the contract is satisfied when control of the product is transferred to the customer, which is indicated by shipment of the product and the transfer of title and the risk of loss to the customer. Revenue is recognized on consignment sales when control transfers to the customer, generally at the point of customer usage of the product. The transaction price for product sales is generally the amount specified in the PO or in the request under an MSA; however, as is common in Chemours’ industry, the Company offers variable consideration in the form of rebates, volume discounts, early payment discounts, pricing based on formulas or indices, price matching, and guarantees to certain customers. Such amounts are included in the Company’s estimated transaction price using either the expected value method or the most-likely amount, depending on the nature of the variable consideration included in the contract. The Company regularly assesses its customers’ creditworthiness, and product sales are made based on established credit limits. Payment terms for the Company’s invoices are typically less than 90 days.


The Company also licenses the right to access certain of its trademarks to customers under specified terms and conditions in certain arrangements, which is recognized as a component of net sales in the consolidated statements of operations. Under such arrangements, the Company may receive a royalty payment for a trademark license that is entered into on a stand-alone basis or incorporated into an overall product sales arrangement. Royalty income is generally based on customer sales and recognized under the sales-based exception as the customer sale occurs. When minimum guaranteed royalty amounts are included in the transaction price, the Company recognizes royalty income ratably over the license period for the minimum amount. When there is no consideration specified for the use of the Company’s trademark, the entire transaction price is recognized in connection with the transfer of control of product. Royalty income resulting from the right to use the Company’s technology is considered outside the scope of revenue recognition under GAAP as it is not a part of the Company’s ongoing major or central activities, and is recognized as a component of other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations in accordance with agreed-upon terms at the point or points in time that performance obligations are satisfied.

 

Consistent with the fact that the vast majority of the Company’s payment terms are less than 90 days from the point at which control of the promised goods or services is transferred, no adjustments have been made for the effects of a significant financing component. Additionally, the Company has elected to recognize the incremental costs associated with obtaining contracts as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the assets that the Company would have recognized is one year or less. Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling fees are considered a fulfillment cost and are included in net sales, and the costs incurred by the Company for the delivery of goods are classified as a component of the cost of goods sold in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Research and Development Expense

Research and Development Expense

 

Research and development (“R&D”) costs are expensed as incurred. R&D expenses include costs (primarily consisting of employee costs, materials, contract services, research agreements, and other external spend) relating to the discovery and development of new products, enhancement of existing products, and regulatory approval of new and existing products.

Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes

 

Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes

 

The provision for (benefit from) income taxes is determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes. Under this approach, deferred taxes represent the future tax consequences expected to occur when the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid. The provision for (benefit from) income taxes represents income taxes paid or payable for the current year, plus the change in deferred taxes during the year. Deferred taxes result from differences between the financial and tax bases of Chemours’ assets and liabilities and are adjusted for changes in tax rates and tax laws when changes are enacted. The Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are presented on a net basis by jurisdictional filing group. Net deferred tax assets are presented as a component of other assets, while net deferred tax liabilities are presented as a component of deferred income taxes on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will not be realized.

 

Chemours recognizes income tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not threshold and accrues any interest related to unrecognized income tax positions in the provision for (benefit from) income taxes in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company also recognizes income tax-related penalties in the provision for (benefit from) income taxes.

Earnings Per Share

 

Earnings Per Share

 

Chemours presents both basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share. Basic earnings per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing the total net income (loss) attributable to Chemours by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the dilution that could occur if the Company’s outstanding stock-based compensation awards, including any unvested restricted shares, were vested and exercised, thereby resulting in the issuance of common stock as determined under the treasury stock method. In periods where the Company incurs a net loss, stock-based compensation awards are excluded from the calculation of earnings per share as their inclusion would have an anti-dilutive effect.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents generally include cash, time deposits, or highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the time of acquisition.

 

Accounts and Notes Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts and Notes Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

Accounts and notes receivables are recognized net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts reflects the best estimate of losses inherent in Chemours’ accounts and notes receivable portfolio, which is determined by assessing expected credit losses on the basis of historical experience, specific allowances for known troubled accounts, and other available evidence. Accounts and notes receivable are written off when management determines that they are uncollectible.

Inventories

 

Inventories

 

Chemours’ U.S. inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market, as inventories held at substantially all U.S. locations are valued using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method. Chemours’ non-U.S. inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value, as inventories held outside the U.S. are valued using the average cost method. The elements of cost in inventories include raw materials, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead. Stores and supplies are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is generally determined by the average cost method.

 

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant, and Equipment

 

Property, plant, and equipment is carried at cost and is depreciated using the straight-line method. Substantially all equipment and buildings are depreciated over useful lives ranging from 15 to 25 years. Capitalizable costs associated with computer software for internal use are amortized on a straight-line basis over five to seven years. When assets are surrendered, retired, sold, or otherwise disposed of, their gross carrying values and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the consolidated balance sheets and are included in the determination of any gain or loss on such disposals.

 

Repair and maintenance costs that materially add to the value of the asset or prolong its useful life are capitalized and depreciated based on their extension to the asset’s useful life. Capitalized repair and maintenance costs are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets as a component of other assets.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

 

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

 

Chemours evaluates the carrying value of its long-lived assets to be held and used when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. For the purposes of recognition or measurement of an impairment charge, the assessment is performed on the asset or asset group at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets and liabilities. To determine the level at which the assessment is performed, Chemours considers factors such as revenue dependency, shared costs, and the extent of vertical integration. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the total projected undiscounted cash flows from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or asset group are separately identifiable and are less than its carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset. The fair value methodology used is an estimate of fair market value, which is made based on prices of similar assets or other valuation methodologies, including present value techniques. Long-lived assets to be disposed of by means other than sale are classified as held for use until their disposal. Long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale are classified as held for sale and are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair market value, less the estimated cost to sell. Depreciation is discontinued for any long-lived assets classified as held for sale.

Leases

Leases

 

The Company’s lease assets and lease liabilities are recognized on the lease commencement date in an amount that represents the present value of future lease payments. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use assets, other accrued liabilities, and operating lease liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in property, plant, and equipment, net, short-term and current maturities of long-term debt, and long-term debt, net, on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s incremental borrowing rate, which is based on information available at the adoption date of January 1, 2019 for existing leases and the commencement date for leases commencing after the adoption date, is used to determine the present value of lease payments. The Company combines lease components with non-lease components for all classes of assets, except for certain manufacturing facilities.

 

The Company does not recognize leases with an initial term of 12 months or less on its consolidated balance sheets and will recognize those lease payments in the consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Certain leases contain variable payments which are based on usage or operating costs, such as utilities and maintenance. These payments are not included in the measurement of the right-of-use asset or lease liability due to the uncertainty of the payment amount and are recorded as lease expense in the period incurred. Leases with the options to extend their term or terminate early are reflected in the lease term when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise such options.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired in a business combination, including any identified intangible assets, is recorded as goodwill. Chemours tests its goodwill for impairment at least annually on October 1; however, these tests are performed more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset may be impaired. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is defined as an operating segment, or one level below an operating segment. A reporting unit is the level at which discrete financial information is available and reviewed by business management on a regular basis. An impairment exists when the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. The amount of impairment loss recognized in the consolidated statements of operations is equal to the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying value over its fair value, which is limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.

 

Chemours has the option to first qualitatively assess whether it is more-likely-than-not that an impairment exists for a reporting unit. Such qualitative factors include, among other things, prevailing macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, changes in costs associated with raw materials, labor, or other inputs, the Company’s overall financial performance, and certain other entity-specific events that impact Chemours’ reporting units. When performing a quantitative test, the Company weights the results of an income-based valuation technique, the discounted cash flows method, and a market-based valuation technique, the guideline public companies method, to determine its reporting units’ fair values.

 

Definite-lived intangible assets, such as purchased and licensed technology, patents, trademarks, and customer lists, are amortized over their estimated useful lives, generally for periods ranging from five to 20 years. The reasonableness of the useful lives of these assets is periodically evaluated.

 

Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset Retirement Obligations

 

Chemours records its asset retirement obligations at their fair value at the time the liability is incurred. Fair value is measured using the expected future cash outflows discounted at Chemours’ credit-adjusted, risk-free interest rate, which is considered to be a Level 3 input within the fair value hierarchy. Accretion expense is recognized as an operating expense within the cost of goods sold in the consolidated statements of operations, using the credit-adjusted, risk-free interest rate in effect when the liability was recognized. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset and are depreciated over the estimated remaining useful life of the asset, generally for periods ranging from two to 25 years.

 

Insurance

Insurance

 

Chemours insures for certain risks where permitted by law or regulation, including workers’ compensation, vehicle liability, and employee-related benefits. Liabilities associated with these risks are estimated in part by considering any historical claims experience, demographic factors, and other actuarial assumptions. For certain other risks, the Company uses a combination of third-party insurance and self-insurance, reflecting its comprehensive review of relevant risks. A receivable for an insurance recovery is generally recognized when the loss has occurred and collection is considered probable.

Litigation

 

Litigation

 

Chemours accrues for litigation matters when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Where the available information is only sufficient to establish a range of probable liability, and no point within the range is more likely than any other, the lower end of the range has been used. When a material loss contingency is reasonably possible, but not probable, we do not record a liability, but instead disclose the nature of the matter and an estimate of the loss or range of loss, to the extent such estimate can be made. Litigation-related liabilities and expenditures included in the consolidated financial statements include legal matters that are liabilities of EID and its subsidiaries, which Chemours may be required to indemnify pursuant to the Separation-related agreements executed prior to the Separation. Legal costs, such as outside counsel fees and expenses, are charged to expense in the period that services are rendered.

Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures

 


Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures

 

Chemours accrues for environmental remediation matters when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Where the available information is only sufficient to establish a range of probable liability, and no point within the range is more likely than any other, the lower end of the range has been used.

 

Estimated liabilities are determined based on existing remediation laws and technologies and the Company’s planned remedial responses, which are derived from environmental studies, sampling, testing, and analyses. Inherent uncertainties exist in such evaluations, primarily due to unknown environmental conditions, changing governmental regulations regarding liability, and emerging remediation technologies. These liabilities, which are undiscounted, are adjusted periodically as remediation efforts progress and as additional technological, regulatory, and legal information becomes available.

 

Environmental liabilities and expenditures include claims for matters that are liabilities of EID and its subsidiaries, which Chemours may be required to indemnify pursuant to the Separation-related agreements executed prior to the Separation. These accrued liabilities are undiscounted and do not include claims against third parties, and are included in other accrued liabilities and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

 

Costs related to environmental remediation are charged to expense in the period that the associated liability is accrued and are reflected as a component of the cost of goods sold for on-site remediation costs or as a component of selling, general, and administrative expense for off-site remediation costs in the consolidated statements of operations. Other environmental costs are also charged to expense in the period incurred, unless they extend the useful life of the property, increase the property’s capacity, and/or reduce or prevent contamination from future operations, in which case they are capitalized and amortized. Pursuant to the binding Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) entered into between Chemours, DuPont, Corteva, and EID, as further discussed in “Note 22 – Commitments and Contingent Liabilities”, costs specific to potential future legacy PFAS liabilities are subject to a cost-sharing arrangement between the parties. Any recoveries of Qualified Spend (as further described in “Note 22 – Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” and as defined in the MOU) from DuPont and/or Corteva under the cost-sharing arrangement will be recognized as an offset to the Company’s cost of goods sold or selling, general, and administrative expense, as applicable, when realizable. Any Qualified Spend incurred by DuPont and/or Corteva under the cost-sharing arrangement will be recognized in the Company’s cost of goods sold or selling, general, and administrative expense, as applicable, when the amounts of such costs are probable and estimable.

Treasury Stock

 

Treasury Stock

 

Chemours accounts for repurchases of the Company’s common stock as treasury stock using the cost method, whereby the entire cost of the acquired common stock is recorded as treasury stock.

 

Stock-based Compensation

Stock-based Compensation

 

Chemours’ stock-based compensation consists of stock options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and performance share units (“PSUs”) awarded to employees and non-employee directors. Stock options and PSUs are measured at their fair value on the grant date or date of modification, as applicable. RSUs are measured at the stock price on the grant date or date of modification, as applicable. The Company recognizes compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service and/or performance period, as applicable. Forfeitures of awards are accounted as a reduction in stock-based compensation expense in the period such awards are forfeited.

 

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments

 

In the ordinary course of business, Chemours enters into contractual arrangements to reduce its exposure to foreign currency and interest rate risks. The Company has established a financial risk management program, which currently includes four distinct risk management instruments: (i) foreign currency forward contracts, which are used to minimize the volatility in the Company’s earnings related to foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from remeasuring its monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in non-functional currencies; (ii) foreign currency forward contracts, which are used to mitigate the risks associated with fluctuations in the euro against the U.S. dollar for forecasted U.S. dollar-denominated inventory purchases in certain of the Company’s international subsidiaries that use the euro as their functional currency; (iii) interest rate swaps, which are used to mitigate the volatility in the Company’s cash payments for interest due to fluctuations in LIBOR, as is applicable to the portion of the Company’s senior secured term loan facility denominated in U.S. dollars; and, (iv) euro-denominated debt, which is used to reduce the volatility in stockholders’ equity caused by changes in foreign currency exchange rates of the euro with respect to the U.S. dollar for certain of its international subsidiaries that use the euro as their functional currency. The Company’s financial risk management program reflects varying levels of exposure coverage and time horizons based on an assessment of risk. The program operates within Chemours’ financial risk management policies and guidelines, and the Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.


The Company’s foreign currency forward contracts that are used as a net monetary assets and liabilities hedge are not part of a cash flow hedge program or a fair value hedge program, and have not been designated as a hedge. For these instruments, all gains and losses resulting from the revaluation of derivative assets and liabilities are recognized in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations during the period in which they occur, and any such gains or losses are intended to be offset by any gains or losses on the underlying asset or liability. For the Company’s foreign currency forward contracts that have been designated under a cash flow hedge program, all gains and losses resulting from the revaluation of the derivative instruments are recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss on the consolidated balance sheets during the period in which they occur, and are reclassified to the cost of goods sold in the consolidated statements of operations during the period in which the underlying transactions affect earnings, or when it becomes probable that the forecasted transactions will not occur. For the Company’s interest rate swaps that have been designated under a cash flow hedge program, all gains and losses resulting from the revaluation of the derivative instruments are recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss on the consolidated balance sheets during the period in which they occur, and are reclassified to interest expense, net in the consolidated statements of operations during the period in which the underlying transaction affects earnings. For the Company’s euro-denominated debt instruments, which are designated as a net investment hedge, changes due to remeasurement are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss on the consolidated balance sheets. Chemours’ uses the spot method to evaluate the effectiveness of its net investment hedge.

 

Financial instruments are reported on a gross basis on the consolidated balance sheets.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation

 

Chemours identifies its separate and distinct foreign entities and groups them into two categories: (i) extensions of the parent (U.S. dollar functional currency); and, (ii) self-contained (local functional currency). If a foreign entity does not align with either category, factors are evaluated, and a judgment is made to determine the functional currency. Chemours changes the functional currency of its separate and distinct foreign entities only when significant changes in economic facts and circumstances clearly indicate that the functional currency has changed.

 

During the periods covered by the consolidated financial statements, part of Chemours’ business operated within foreign entities. For foreign entities where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, all foreign currency-denominated asset and liability amounts are remeasured into U.S. dollars at end-of-period exchange rates, with the exception of inventories, prepaid expenses, property, plant, and equipment, goodwill, and other intangible assets. These aforementioned assets are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Foreign currency-denominated revenue and expense amounts are measured at exchange rates in effect during the period, with the exception of expenses related to any balance sheet amounts remeasured at historical exchange rates. Exchange gains and losses arising from remeasurement of foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities are included in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations in the period in which they occurred.

 

For foreign entities where the local currency is the functional currency, assets and liabilities denominated in local currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at end-of-period exchange rates, and the resulting translation adjustments are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss on the consolidated balance sheets. Assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are remeasured into the functional currency prior to translation into U.S. dollars, and the resulting exchange gains or losses are included in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations in the period in which they occurred. Revenues and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at average exchange rates in effect during the period.

Defined Benefit Plans

Defined Benefit Plans

 

Due to local regulations outside of the U.S., Chemours has defined benefit plans covering certain of its employees. The benefits of these plans, which primarily relate to pension, are accrued over the employees’ service periods. The Company uses actuarial methods and assumptions in the valuation of its defined benefit obligations and the determination of any net periodic pension income or expense. Any differences between actual and expected results, or changes in the value of defined benefit obligations and plan assets, if any, are not recognized in earnings as they occur. Rather, they are systematically recognized over subsequent periods.

 

Fair Value Measurement

Fair Value Measurement

 

Fair value is defined as the exit price, the price that would be received to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Under the accounting for fair value measurements and disclosures, a fair value hierarchy was established to prioritize the valuation inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives highest priority to unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (i.e., Level 1 measurements) and lowest priority to unobservable inputs (i.e., Level 3 measurements). A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

Chemours applies the following valuation hierarchy in measuring the fair values of its assets and liabilities:

 

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;

 

Level 2 – Significant other observable inputs (e.g., quoted prices for similar items in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar items in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable, such as interest rate and yield curves, and market-corroborated inputs); and,

 

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are valued based on management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Accounting Guidance Issued and Not Yet Adopted

 

Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes

 

In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The amendments in this update simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740, as well as improve consistency of application by clarifying and amending existing guidance. For public entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the impacts of adopting this guidance to be material to its financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

 

Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting

 

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (“ASU No. 2020-04”). The amendments in this update provide optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden associated with accounting for contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. ASU No. 2020-04 is effective March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impacts this standard will have on its accounting for contracts and hedging relationships.

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance

 

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU No. 2016-13”). The amendments in this update affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, and any other financial assets that have the contractual right to receive cash, which, for the Company, primarily consists of accounts and notes receivable, net. ASU No. 2016-13 requires an entity to recognize expected credit losses rather than incurred losses for financial assets. The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-13 on January 1, 2020 using the modified retrospective transition method, the effect of which was not material to its financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.