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Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements
(unaudited)
1. Basis of presentation
These condensed consolidated financial statements of TransCanada Corporation (TransCanada or the Company) have been prepared by management in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The accounting policies applied are consistent with those outlined in TransCanada's annual audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016, except as described in Note 2, Accounting changes. Capitalized and abbreviated terms that are used but not otherwise defined herein are identified in TransCanada's 2016 Annual Report.
These condensed consolidated financial statements reflect adjustments, all of which are normal recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to reflect fairly the financial position and results of operations for the respective periods. These condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all disclosures required in the annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the 2016 audited consolidated financial statements included in TransCanada's 2016 Annual Report. Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform with the current period's presentation.
Earnings for interim periods may not be indicative of results for the fiscal year in the Company's natural gas pipelines segments due to the timing of regulatory decisions and seasonal fluctuations in short-term throughput volumes on U.S. pipelines. Earnings for interim periods may also not be indicative of results for the fiscal year in the Company's Energy segment due to the impact of seasonal weather conditions on customer demand and market pricing in certain of the Company's investments in electrical power generation plants and non-regulated gas storage facilities.
USE OF ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS
In preparing these financial statements, TransCanada is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect both the amount and timing of recording assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses since the determination of these items may be dependent on future events. The Company uses the most current information available and exercises careful judgement in making these estimates and assumptions. In the opinion of management, these condensed consolidated financial statements have been properly prepared within reasonable limits of materiality and within the framework of the Company's significant accounting policies included in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016, except as described in Note 2, Accounting changes.
2. Accounting changes
CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES FOR 2017
Inventory
In July 2015, the FASB issued new guidance on simplifying the measurement of inventory. The new guidance specifies that an entity should measure inventory within the scope of this update at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. This new guidance was effective January 1, 2017, was applied prospectively and did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated balance sheet.
Derivatives and hedging
In March 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that clarifies the requirements for assessing whether contingent call or put options that can accelerate the payment of principal on debt instruments are clearly and closely related to their debt hosts. The new guidance requires only an assessment of the four-step decision sequence outlined in GAAP to determine whether the economic characteristics and risks of call or put options are clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risks. This new guidance was effective January 1, 2017, was applied prospectively and did not result in any impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Equity method investments
In March 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that simplifies the transition to equity method accounting. In these situations, when an increase in ownership interest in an investment qualifies it for equity method accounting, the new guidance eliminates the requirement to retroactively apply the equity method of accounting. This new guidance was effective January 1, 2017, was applied prospectively and did not result in any impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Employee share-based payments
In March 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The new guidance also permits entities to make an accounting policy election either to continue to estimate the total number of awards for which the requisite service period will not be rendered or to account for forfeitures when they occur. The Company has elected to account for forfeitures when they occur. This new guidance was effective January 1, 2017 and resulted in a cumulative-effect adjustment of $12 million to opening retained earnings and the recognition of a deferred tax asset related to employee share-based payments made prior to the adoption of this standard.
Consolidation
In October 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on consolidation relating to interests held through related parties that are under common control. The new guidance amends the consolidation requirements such that if a decision maker is required to evaluate whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, it will need to consider only its proportionate indirect interest in the VIE held through a common control party. The new guidance was effective January 1, 2017, was applied retrospectively and did not result in any change to the Company's consolidation conclusions.
FUTURE ACCOUNTING CHANGES
Revenue from contracts with customers
In 2014, the FASB issued new guidance on revenue from contracts with customers. The new guidance requires that an entity recognize revenue in accordance with a five-step model. This model is used to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the total consideration to which it expects to be entitled during the term of the contract in exchange for those goods or services. The new guidance also requires additional disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and the related cash flows. The Company will adopt the new standard on the effective date of January 1, 2018. There are two methods in which the new standard can be adopted: (1) a full retrospective approach with restatement of all prior periods presented, or (2) a modified retrospective approach with a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. The Company is evaluating both methods of adoption as it works through its analysis.
The Company has identified all existing customer contracts that are within the scope of the new guidance and is in the process of analyzing individual contracts or groups of contracts on a segmented basis to identify any significant changes in how revenues are recognized as a result of implementing the new standard. As the Company continues its contract analysis, it will also quantify the impact, if any, on prior period revenues. The Company will address any system and process changes necessary to compile the information to meet the recognition and disclosure requirements of the new standard. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial statements as well as the development of disclosures required under the new standard.
Financial instruments
In January 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on the accounting for equity investments and financial liabilities. The new guidance will change the income statement effect of equity investments and the recognition of changes in fair value of financial liabilities when the fair value option is elected. The new guidance also requires the Company to assess valuation allowances for deferred tax assets related to available for sale debt securities in combination with their other deferred tax assets. This new guidance is effective January 1, 2018 and specifies the method of adoption for each component of the guidance. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance and has not yet determined the effect on its consolidated financial statements.
Leases
In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on the accounting for leases. The new guidance amends the definition of a lease requiring the customer to have both (1) the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the asset and (2) the right to direct the use of the asset in order for the arrangement to qualify as a lease. The new guidance requires lessees to recognize most leases, including operating leases, on the balance sheet as lease assets and lease liabilities. Lessees may also be required to reassess assumptions associated with existing leases as well as to provide expanded qualitative and quantitative disclosures. The new standard does not make extensive changes to lessor accounting. The new guidance is effective January 1, 2019. The Company is currently identifying existing lease agreements that may have an impact on its consolidated financial statements as a result of adopting this new guidance.
Measurement of credit losses on financial instruments
In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that significantly changes how entities measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. The new guidance amends the impairment model of financial instruments basing it on expected losses rather than incurred losses. These expected credit losses will be recognized as an allowance rather than a direct write down of the amortized cost basis. The new guidance is effective January 1, 2020 and will be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance and has not yet determined the effect on its consolidated financial statements.
Income taxes
In October 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The new guidance requires the recognition of deferred and current income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer when the transfer occurs. The new guidance is effective January 1, 2018 and will be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance and has not yet determined the effect on its consolidated financial statements.
Restricted cash
In November 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on restricted cash and cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. The new guidance requires that the statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total cash and cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. The amounts of restricted cash and cash equivalents will be included in Cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning of year and end of year total amounts on the statement of cash flows. This new guidance is effective January 1, 2018 and will be applied retrospectively, however, early adoption is permitted.
Goodwill impairment
In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance on simplifying the test for goodwill impairment by eliminating the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure the impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit's carrying amount over its fair value. This new guidance is effective January 1, 2020 and will be applied prospectively, with early adoption permitted.
Employee post-retirement benefits
In March 2017, the FASB issued new guidance that will require entities to disaggregate the current service cost component from the other components of the net benefit cost and present it with other current compensation costs for related employees in the income statement. The new guidance also requires that the other components of the net benefit cost be presented elsewhere in the income statement and excluded from income from operations if such a subtotal is presented. In addition, the new guidance makes changes to the components of net benefit cost that are eligible for capitalization. Entities must use a retrospective transition method to adopt the requirement for separate presentation in the income statement of the components of net benefit cost, and a prospective transition method to adopt the change to capitalization of benefit costs. This new guidance is effective January 1, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.
Amortization on purchased callable debt securities
In March 2017, the FASB issued new guidance that shortens the amortization period for the premium on certain purchased callable debt securities by requiring entities to amortize the premium to the earliest call date. This new guidance is effective January 1, 2019 and will be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance and has not yet determined the effect on its consolidated financial statements.
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3. Segmented information
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three months
ended
March 31,
2017
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three months
ended
March 31,
2016
TOTAL ASSETS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (unaudited - millions of Canadian $) March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canadian Natural Gas Pipelines 16,255 15,816 U.S. Natural Gas Pipelines 34,934 34,422 Mexico Natural Gas Pipelines 5,230 5,013 Liquids Pipelines 16,995 16,896 Energy 12,832 13,169 Corporate 2,393 2,735 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 88,639 88,051 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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