Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance

Leases

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842) which amended the existing lease accounting guidance to require lessees to recognize a right of use asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms greater than twelve months. We adopted the new leasing standard and all related amendments on January 1, 2019. We elected the optional transition method provided by ASU No. 2018-11, “Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements” and as a result, have not restated our condensed consolidated financial statements for prior periods presented. We also elected the practical expedients permitted under the
transition guidance that retain the lease classification and initial direct costs for any leases that existed prior to adoption of the standard. In addition, we have not reassessed the accounting treatment of contracts entered into prior to adoption of the new lease guidance. For further information regarding the adoption of the new lease standard, see Note 8, “Lease Commitments”.

Implementation Costs Incurred in Cloud Computing Arrangements

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, “Intangibles — Goodwill and Other — Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract.” The ASU requires a customer in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract to follow existing internal-use software guidance to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as an asset. The ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted, and may be applied retrospectively or as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The Trust adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2019. The adoption of the guidance did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” The ASU amends the impairment model by requiring entities to use a forward-looking approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including trade receivables. Upon adoption, we will be required to evaluate our trade accounts receivables for expected future credit losses. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Trust will adopt the ASU as of January 1, 2020. Due to the short-term nature of our trade accounts receivable, we anticipate the impact upon adoption of this ASU will be minimal to the Trust.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, “Compensation — Retirement Benefits — Defined Benefit Plans — General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework — Changes to Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans.” The ASU eliminates requirements for certain disclosures and requires additional disclosures under defined benefit pension plans and other post-retirement plans. The ASU is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Trust is currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2018-14 will have on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740) — Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.” The ASU simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period, hybrid taxes and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. It also clarifies and simplifies other aspects of the accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted in interim or annual periods with any adjustments reflected as of the beginning of the annual period that includes that interim period. We are currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.