XML 27 R9.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.6.0.2
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported asset and liability amounts and the contingent asset and liability disclosures at the date of the financial statements, as well as the revenue and expense amounts reported during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Foreign Currency. For our international operations, where the local currency has been determined to be the functional currency, assets and liabilities are translated at year-end exchange rates with cumulative translation adjustments included as a component of shareholders’ equity. Income and expense items are translated at average foreign exchange rates prevailing during the year. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Cash Equivalents. Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase. The carrying amounts reported in our Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash equivalents approximate fair value.
Restricted Cash. Cash related to contractual obligations or restricted by management for specific use is classified as restricted and is included in other current assets and/or other assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets depending on the timing of the restrictions. We had $9.4 million of restricted cash in current assets of discontinued operations as of December 31, 2016, primarily related to court ordered vendor payment disputes and $0.2 million in other current assets of continuing operations related to bank deposits.
In noncurrent assets of discontinued operations, we had $1.7 million and $1.9 million of restricted cash as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, which relates to cash set aside as indemnification for certain customers.
Trade Accounts Receivable and Allowances. Trade accounts receivable are stated net of estimated allowances, which primarily represent estimated amounts associated with customer returns, discounts on payment terms and the inability of certain customers to make the required payments. When determining the allowances, we take several factors into consideration, including prior history of accounts receivable credit activity and write-offs, the overall composition of accounts receivable aging, the types of customers and our day-to-day knowledge of specific customers. Changes in the allowances are recorded as reductions of net revenue or as bad debt expense (included in selling, general and administrative expense), as appropriate, in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. In general, accounts which have entered into an insolvency action, have been returned by a collection agency as uncollectible or whose existence can no longer be confirmed are written off in full and both the receivable and the associated allowance are removed from our Consolidated Balance Sheet. If, subsequent to the write-off, a portion of the account is recovered, it is recorded as a reduction of bad debt expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations at the time cash is received. See Note 5 - Supplemental Balance Sheet information for additional information on Accounts Receivable reserves and allowances.
Inventories. Inventories, which principally consists of parts used in assembly, are valued at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined on a first-in, first-out basis. We provide estimated inventory write-downs for excess, slow-moving and obsolete inventory as well as inventory with a carrying value in excess of estimated net realizable value.
Derivative Financial Instruments. We recognize all derivatives on the balance sheet at their estimated fair value. Fair value of our derivative contracts with durations of twelve months or less are classified as current and durations of greater than twelve months as non-current. Changes in the estimated fair value of derivatives that are not designated as, and qualify for, hedge accounting are recorded in our results of operations. We do not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes, and we are not a party to leveraged derivatives. If a derivative is designated as, and qualifies for, hedge accounting, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are either offset against the change in fair value of the underlying assets or liabilities through operations or recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss in shareholders’ equity until the underlying hedged item is recognized in operations. These gains and losses are generally recognized as an adjustment to cost of goods sold for inventory-related hedge transactions, or as adjustments to foreign currency transaction gains or losses included in non-operating expenses for foreign denominated payables- and receivables-related hedge transactions. Cash flows attributable to these derivatives are included with cash flows of the associated hedged items. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value is immediately recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. See Note 12 - Fair Value Measurements for more information on our derivative financial instruments.
Investments. Investments include trading securities stated at fair value. The corresponding gain or loss associated with these investments is reported in our Consolidated Statements of Operations as a component of other expense.
Assets Held for Sale. Assets held for sale consists of assets recorded at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell for which management has committed to plan to sell the assets, the sale is probable and will occur within a year. We had $0.0 million and $20.6 million of assets held for sale as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The assets classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2015 consisted of $11.0 million that was attributable to continuing operations for our former corporate headquarters facility. Assets held for sale related to discontinued operations consisted of $0.2 million for the Company's Canadian facility and $9.4 million for the assets sold related to the Memorex trademark transaction.
Property, Plant and Equipment, net. Property, plant and equipment, including leasehold and other improvements that extend an asset’s useful life or productive capabilities, are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. The cost and related accumulated depreciation of assets sold or otherwise disposed are removed from the related accounts, and the gains or losses are reflected in the results of operations.
Property, plant and equipment are generally depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The estimated depreciable lives range from 10 to 20 years for buildings and 5 to 10 years for machinery and equipment. Leasehold and other improvements are amortized over the remaining life of the lease or the estimated useful life of the improvement, whichever is shorter. Depreciation expense was $1.7 million with $1.4 million in continuing operations and $0.3 million discontinued operations and $7.0 million with $5.9 million in continuing operations and $1.1 million in discontinued operations for the years ended 2016 and 2015 respectively.
Intangible Assets. We record all assets and liabilities acquired in purchase acquisitions, including intangibles, at estimated fair value. The initial recognition of intangible assets, the determination of useful lives and, if necessary, subsequent impairment analyses require management to make subjective estimates of how the acquired assets will perform in the future using certain valuation methods. See Note 6 - Intangible Assets and Goodwill for further information on our intangible assets and impairment testing.
Goodwill.  Goodwill is the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually in the fourth quarter, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Goodwill is considered impaired when its carrying amount exceeds its implied fair value. The Company may assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill. If we determine in this assessment that the fair value of the reporting unit is more than its carrying amount we may conclude that there is no need to perform Step 1 of the impairment test. We have an unconditional option to bypass the qualitative assessment for any reporting unit in any period and proceed directly to performing Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test.
Step 1 of the impairment test involves comparing the fair value of the reporting unit to which goodwill was assigned to its carrying amount. If fair value is deemed to be less than carrying value, Step 2 of the impairment test compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill with the carrying amount of the reporting unit's goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit's goodwill is greater than the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill, an impairment loss must be recognized for the excess. This involves measuring the fair value of the reporting unit's assets and liabilities (both recognized and unrecognized) at the time of the impairment test. The difference between the reporting unit's fair value and the fair values assigned to the reporting unit's individual assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill. See Note 6 - Intangible Assets and Goodwill for further information on our goodwill and impairment testing.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets.  We periodically review the carrying value of our property and equipment and our intangible assets to test whether current events or circumstances indicate that such carrying value may not be recoverable. For the testing of long-lived assets that are "held for use," if the tests indicate that the carrying value of the asset group that contains the long-lived asset being evaluated is greater than the expected undiscounted cash flows to be generated by such asset or asset group, an impairment loss would be recognized. The impairment loss is determined by the amount by which the carrying value of such asset group exceeds its estimated fair value. We generally measure fair value by considering sale prices for similar assets or by discounting estimated future cash flows from such assets using an appropriate discount rate. See Note 6 - Intangible Assets and Goodwill for further information on impairment testing.
Assets to be disposed of and qualify as being "held for sale" are carried at the lower of their carrying value or fair value less costs to sell. Management judgment is necessary to estimate the fair value of assets and, accordingly, actual results could vary significantly from such estimates.
Revenue Recognition.  We recognize revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, installation has been completed (if applicable) or services have been rendered, fees are fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. For product sales, delivery is considered to have occurred when the risks and rewards of ownership transfer to the customer. For inventory maintained at the customer site, revenue is recognized at the time these products are sold by the customer. We base our estimates for returns on historical experience and have not experienced significant fluctuations between estimated and actual return activity. Non-income based taxes collected from customers are also recorded as revenue and include levies and various excise taxes, mainly in non-U.S. jurisdictions. These taxes included in revenue in 2016 and 2015 were $0.0 million and $4.9 million, respectively.
The majority of the Company’s Nexsan products have both software and non-software components that together deliver the products’ essential functionality. The software is embedded within the hardware and sold together as a single storage solution to the customer. Accordingly, the software and non-software components do not qualify as separate units of accounting as prescribed in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 605-25 and are combined as a single unit of accounting. There are no situations where revenue is recognized separately for software.
We also offer services in conjunction with our Nexsan products which may include installation, training, hardware maintenance and software support. For such services that are determined to be essential to the functionality of the product, the product and services do not qualify as separate units of accounting as prescribed in ASC 605-25 and are combined as a single unit of accounting. In situations where the sale of our Storage and Security Solutions products and associated services qualify as multiple element arrangements, we allocate arrangement consideration to each unit of accounting based on its relative selling price, and revenue is recognized for each element when all of the criteria for revenue recognition for such elements have been met. Revenue from services is not a significant component of total consolidated revenues.
Revenue associated with stand-alone service arrangements (such as maintenance arrangements) that are sold separately is recorded ratably over the service period.
Rebates that are provided to our customers are accounted for as a reduction of revenue at the time of sale based on an estimate of the cost to honor the related rebate programs. The rebate programs that we offer vary across our businesses as we serve numerous markets. The most common incentives relate to amounts paid or credited to customers that are volume-based and rebates to support promotional activities.
Concentrations of Credit Risk. The company sells storage solution products and services to small and medium-size enterprise customers across a range of vertical markets exclusively through our worldwide network of value-added resellers ("VARs") and performs ongoing credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition. The Company has one major customer that represented 19 percent of total net revenue for the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. 10 percent and 17 percent of the Company's accounts receivable balance for the years ending December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, was attributable to this customer. No other customer accounts for more than 10 percent of net revenue or accounts receivable.
Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold includes raw materials, direct labor, manufacturing overhead, shipping and receiving costs, freight costs, depreciation of manufacturing equipment and other less significant indirect costs related to the production of our products.
Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) Expenses. SG&A expenses include sales and marketing, customer service, finance, legal, human resources, information technology, general management and similar expenses.
Research and Development Costs.  Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs include salaries, payroll taxes, employee benefit costs, supplies, depreciation and maintenance of research equipment.
Rebates Received.  We receive rebates from some of our inventory vendors if we achieve pre-determined purchasing thresholds. These rebates are accounted for as a reduction of the price of the vendor's products and are included as a reduction of our cost of goods sold in the period in which the purchased inventory is sold.
Income Taxes.  We are required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. This process involves estimating our actual current tax obligations based on expected taxable income, statutory tax rates and tax credits allowed in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Tax laws require certain items to be included in our tax returns at different times than the items are reflected in our results of operations. Some of these differences are permanent, such as expenses that are not deductible in our tax returns, and some are temporary differences that will reverse over time. Temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We must assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be realized and establish a valuation allowance to the extent necessary.
We record income taxes using the asset and liability approach. Under this approach, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the book and tax basis of assets and liabilities. We measure deferred tax assets and liabilities using the enacted statutory tax rates that are expected to apply in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or paid.
We regularly assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered in the future. In accordance with accounting rules, a valuation allowance is recorded to the extent we conclude a deferred tax asset is not considered to be more-likely-than-not to be realized. We consider all positive and negative evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax assets in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. If we determine it is more-likely-than-not that we will not realize all or part of our deferred tax assets, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset will be charged to earnings in the period such determination is made.
Our income tax returns are subject to review by various U.S. and foreign taxing authorities. As such, we record accruals for items that we believe may be challenged by these taxing authorities. The threshold for recognizing the benefit of a tax return position in the financial statements is that the position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained by the taxing authorities based solely on the technical merits of the position. If the recognition threshold is met, the tax benefit is measured and recognized as the largest amount of tax benefit that, in our judgment, is greater than 50 percent likely to be realized. Interest and penalties recorded for uncertain tax positions are included in our income tax provision.
Treasury Stock.  Our repurchases of shares of common stock are recorded at cost as treasury stock and are presented as a reduction of shareholders’ equity. When treasury shares are reissued, we use a last-in, first-out method, and the difference between repurchase cost and fair value at reissuance is treated as an adjustment to equity.
Stock-Based Compensation.  Stock-based compensation awards classified as equity awards are measured at fair value at the date of grant and expensed over their vesting or service periods. We also have stock appreciation rights outstanding which are considered liability awards as the settlement of these awards, if they were to vest, would be in cash. If these awards were determined to be probable of achieving its stock price conditions and revenue performance conditions, we would record the estimated fair value of such awards as a liability and re-measure their estimated value each reporting period.
The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The assumptions used in the valuation model are supported primarily by historical indicators and current market conditions. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility of our stock and are calculated using the historical weekly close rate for a period of time equal to the expected term. The risk-free rate for the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. We use historical data and management judgment to estimate option exercise and employee termination activity within the valuation model. The expected term of stock options granted is based on historical data and represents the period of time that stock options granted are expected to be outstanding. It is calculated on an aggregated basis and estimated based on an analysis of options already exercised and any foreseeable trends or changes in recipients’ behavior. In determining the expected term, we consider the vesting period of the awards, the contractual term of the awards, historical average holding periods, stock price history, impacts from recent restructuring initiatives and the relative weight for each of these factors. The dividend yield, if applicable, is based on the latest dividend payments made on or announced by the date of the grant. Forfeitures are estimated based on historical experience and current demographics. See Note 8 - Stock-Based Compensation for further information regarding stock-based compensation.
Weighted Average Basic and Diluted Shares Outstanding Loss per share. Basic loss per common share is calculated using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year. Diluted (loss) earnings per common share is computed on the basis of the weighted average basic shares outstanding plus the dilutive effect of our stock-based compensation plans using the “treasury stock” method. Unvested restricted stock and treasury shares are excluded from the calculation of weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Once restricted stock vests, it is included in our common shares outstanding.
Potential common shares are excluded from the computation of diluted (loss) earnings per common share when the effect would be anti-dilutive. All potential common shares are anti-dilutive in periods of net loss available to common shareholders. Stock options are also anti-dilutive when the exercise price of these instruments is greater than the average market price of the Company's common stock for the period. See Note 3 - (Loss) Earnings per Common Share for our calculation of weighted average basic and diluted shares outstanding.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued new accounting guidance related to revenue recognition. This new guidance will replace all current U.S. GAAP guidance on revenue recognition and eliminate all industry-specific guidance. The new revenue recognition standard provides a unified model to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. Other major provisions include capitalization of certain contract costs, consideration of time value of money in the transaction price and allowing estimates of variable consideration to be recognized before contingencies are resolved in certain circumstances. The guidance also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. In July 2015, the guidance was revised to be effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017. The guidance permits the use of either a retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We have not yet selected a transition method and are currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.
In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, which requires management to assess whether there are conditions or events, considered in aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the financial statements are issued. If substantial doubt exists, additional disclosures are required. ASU No. 2014-15 was effective for the Company's annual period ended December 31, 2016. The adoption of the new standard did not have any impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, which modifies existing requirements regarding measuring inventory at the lower of cost or market. Under existing standards, the market amount requires consideration of replacement cost, net realizable value (NRV), and NRV less an approximately normal profit margin. The new ASU replaces market with NRV, defined as estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. This eliminates the need to determine and consider replacement cost or NRV less an approximately normal profit margin when measuring inventory. For GlassBridge, this standard is effective prospectively beginning January 1, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect this ASU to have a material impact on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which revises the accounting related to (1) the classification and measurement of investments in equity securities and (2) the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. The ASU also amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments. The new guidance requires the fair value measurement of investments in equity securities and other ownership interests in an entity, including investments in partnerships, unincorporated joint ventures and limited liability companies (collectively, equity securities) that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method. Entities will need to measure these investments and recognize changes in fair value in net income. Entities will no longer be able to recognize unrealized holding gains and losses on equity securities they classify under current guidance as available for sale in other comprehensive income (OCI). They also will no longer be able to use the cost method of accounting for equity securities that do not have readily determinable fair values. Instead, for these types of equity investments that do not otherwise qualify for the net asset value practical expedient, entities will be permitted to elect a practicability exception and measure the investment at cost less impairment plus or minus observable price changes (in orderly transactions). The ASU also establishes an incremental recognition and disclosure requirement related to the presentation of fair value changes of financial liabilities for which the fair value option (FVO) has been elected. Under this guidance, an entity would be required to separately present in OCI the portion of the total fair value change attributable to instrument-specific credit risk as opposed to reflecting the entire amount in earnings. For derivative liabilities for which the FVO has been elected, however, any changes in fair value attributable to instrument-specific credit risk would continue to be presented in net income, which is consistent with current guidance. For GlassBridge, this standard is effective beginning January 1, 2018 via a cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings, except for guidance relative to equity securities without readily determinable fair values which is applied prospectively. The Company is currently assessing this ASU’s impacts on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires lessees to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 is to be applied using a modified retrospective approach at the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements. ASU 2016-02 will be effective for the company beginning on January 1, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements. 
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), which amends ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, to clarify principal versus agent guidance in situations in which a revenue transaction involves a third party in providing goods or services to a customer. In such circumstances, an entity must determine whether the nature of its promise to the customer is to provide the underlying goods or services (i.e., the entity is the principal in the transaction) or to arrange for the third party to provide the underlying goods or services (i.e., the entity is the agent in the transaction). To determine the nature of its promise to the customer, the entity must first identify each specified good or service to be provided to the customer and then (before transferring it) assess whether it controls each specified good or service. The new ASU clarifies how an entity should identify the unit of accounting (the specified good or service) for the principal versus agent evaluation, and how it should apply the control principle to certain types of arrangements, such as service transactions, by explaining what a principal controls before the specified good or service is transferred to the customer. ASU No. 2016-08 will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of 2017. The Company is currently assessing this standard’s impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718), which simplified certain aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income taxes, classification of awards and classification in the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-09 will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the new stock compensation standard on its consolidated financial statements.
In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-10, Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, which amends ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In terms of identifying performance obligations in a revenue arrangement, the amendments clarify how entities would determine whether promised goods or services are separately identifiable from other promises in a contract and, therefore, would be accounted for separately. The guidance would also allow entities to disregard goods or services that are immaterial in the context of a contract and provides an accounting policy election to account for shipping and handling activities as fulfillment costs rather than as additional promised services. With regard to the licensing, the amendments clarify how an entity would evaluate the nature of its promise in granting a license of intellectual property, which determines whether the entity recognizes revenue over time or at a point in time. The standard also clarifies certain other aspects relative to licensing. ASU No. 2016-10 will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of 2017. The Company is currently assessing this standard’s impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, which is included in ASC Topic 326, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The new guidance revises the accounting requirements related to the measurement of credit losses and will require organizations to measure all expected credit losses for financial assets based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts about collectability. Assets must be presented in the financial statements at the net amount expected to be collected. The guidance will be effective for the Company's annual and interim reporting periods beginning January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact this standard will have on its business practices, financial condition, results of operations, and disclosures.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The update provides guidance on the following eight specific cash flow classification issues: (1) debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs; (2) settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates that are insignificant in relation to the effective interest rate of the borrowing; (3) contingent consideration payments made after a business combination; (4) proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; (5) proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, including bank-owned life insurance policies; (6) distributions received from equity method investees; (7) beneficial interests in securitization transactions; and (8) separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. Current GAAP does not include specific guidance on these eight cash flow classification issues. The amendments of this ASU are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing this standard’s impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-17, Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control, which modifies existing guidance with respect to how a decision maker that holds an indirect interest in a variable interest entity (VIE) through a common control party determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE as part of the analysis of whether the VIE would need to be consolidated. Under the ASU, a decision maker would need to consider only its proportionate indirect interest in the VIE held through a common control party. Previous guidance had required the decision maker to treat the common control party’s interest in the VIE as if the decision maker held the interest itself. As a result of the ASU, in certain cases, previous consolidation conclusions may change. The standard will be effective January 1, 2017 with retrospective application to January 1, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements. 
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Restricted Cash, which clarifies guidance on the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. Under the ASU, changes in restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents would be included along with those of cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. As a result, entities would no longer present transfers between cash/equivalents and restricted cash/equivalents in the statement of cash flows. In addition, a reconciliation between the balance sheet and the statement of cash flows would be disclosed when the balance sheet includes more than one line item for cash/equivalents and restricted cash/equivalents. For the Company, this ASU is effective January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. Entities are required to apply the standard’s provisions on a retrospective basis. The Company is currently assessing the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements.
  In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which narrows the existing definition of a business and provides a framework for evaluating whether a transaction should be accounted for as an acquisition (or disposal) of assets or a business. The ASU requires an entity to evaluate if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets; if so, the set of transferred assets and activities (collectively, the set) is not a business. To be considered a business, the set would need to include an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs. The standard also narrows the definition of outputs. The definition of a business affects areas of accounting such as acquisitions, disposals and goodwill. Under the new guidance, fewer acquired sets are expected to be considered businesses. For the Company, this ASU is effective January 1, 2018 on a prospective basis with early adoption permitted. The Company would apply this guidance to applicable transactions after the adoption date.
  In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. Under the new standard, goodwill impairment would be measured as the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying value of goodwill. This ASU eliminates existing guidance that requires an entity to determine goodwill impairment by calculating the implied fair value of goodwill by hypothetically assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. For the Company, this ASU is effective prospectively to impairment tests beginning January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company would apply this guidance to applicable impairment tests after the adoption date.