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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation
The financial statements are presented on a consolidated basis and include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and entities in which the Company owns or controls fifty percent or more of the voting shares and has the right to control. The results of entities disposed of are included in the Consolidated Financial Statements up to the date of the disposal and, where appropriate, these operations have been reflected as discontinued operations. Our Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation and, in the opinion of management, all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation have been included in the results reported.
The operating results of our legacy business segments, Consumer Storage and Accessories and Tiered Storage and Security Solutions (the “Legacy Businesses”), are presented in our Consolidated Statements of Operations as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Our continuing operations in each period presented represents our global enterprise data storage business with an emerging enterprise-class, private cloud sync and share product line (the “Nexsan Business”, which consists of the products of NXSN’s subsidiaries Nexsan Corporation (together with its subsidiaries other than Connected Data, Inc. ("CDI"), “Nexsan”) and CDI), and our “Asset Management Business,” which consists of our investment advisory business conducted through GBAM, as well as corporate expenses and activities not directly attributable to our Legacy Businesses. Assets and liabilities directly associated with our Legacy Businesses and that are not part of our ongoing operations have been separately presented on the face of our Consolidated Balance Sheets for all periods presented. See Note 4 - Discontinued Operations for further information.
On January 23, 2017, we closed a transaction (the “NXSN Transaction”) with NXSN, pursuant to which all of the issued and outstanding common stock of Nexsan (to which all of the outstanding stock of CDI had been contributed) was transferred to NXSN in exchange for 50% of the issued and outstanding common stock of NXSN and a $25 million senior secured convertible promissory note (the “NXSN Note”). Spear Point Private Equity LP (“SPPE”), an affiliate of Spear Point Capital Management, LLC (“Spear Point”), owns the remaining 50% issued and outstanding shares of NXSN common stock and shares of NXSN non-voting preferred stock.
As a result of the NXSN Transaction, we identified NXSN as a variable interest entity (“VIE”). We consolidate a VIE in our financial statements if we are deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the party that has the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the activities of the VIE and has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Following January 23, 2017, NXSN’s financial results are included in our Consolidated Financial Statements since we made the determination that we are the primary beneficiary of such VIE. Until January 23, 2017, as we owned 100% of the equity interest of Nexsan and CDI, the financial results of Nexsan and CDI were included in our Consolidated Financial Statements as wholly-owned subsidiaries. See Note 14 - Business Segment Information and Geographic Data for additional information.
On February 2, 2017, we closed a transaction with Clinton Group, Inc. (“Clinton”) which has facilitated the launch of our Asset Management Business, which consists of our investment advisory business conducted through GBAM (the “Capacity and Services Transaction”). See Note 6 - Intangible Assets and Goodwill and Note 16 - Related Party Transactions for further information.
On February 21, 2017, we effected a 1:10 reverse split of our common stock, without any change in the par value per share (the “Reverse Stock Split”), and decreased the number of authorized shares of our common stock from 100,000,000 to 10,000,000. All share and per share values of our common stock for all periods presented are retroactively restated for the effect of the Reverse Stock Split.
In June 2017, we launched our first GBAM-managed investment fund (the “GBAM Fund”) which focuses on technology-driven quantitative strategies and other alternative investment strategies. As of December 31, 2017, we had invested certain of our cash as proprietary capital in the GBAM Fund. The GBAM Fund's financial results are included in our Consolidated Financial Statements as part of the Asset Management Business since we owned 100% of its net assets. Our cash and cash equivalents balance as of December 31, 2017 included the proprietary capital invested in the GBAM Fund. See Note 14 - Business Segment Information and Geographic Data for additional information.
The Company’s continued operations and ultimate ability to continue as a going concern will depend on its ability to enhance revenue and operating results, enter into strategic relationships or raise additional capital. The Company can provide no assurances that all or any of such plans will occur; and if the Company is unable to return to profitability or otherwise raise sufficient capital, there would be a material adverse effect on its business.
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 non-current assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets depending on the timing of the restrictions.
Investments
Investment securities are classified into one of three categories: (1) held-to-maturity, (2) available-for-sale, or (3) trading. The Company's short term investment balances as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 included trading securities, which are measured at fair value. The corresponding gain or loss associated with these trading securities is reported in our Consolidated Statements of Operations as a component of "Other income (expense), net". Trading securities are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term therefore are only held for a short period of time.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability, or the exit price in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. A three-level hierarchy is used for fair value measurements based upon the observability of the inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. Level 1 measurements consist of unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 measurements include quoted prices in markets that are not active or model inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. Level 3 measurements include significant unobservable inputs. A financial instrument's level within the hierarchy is based on the highest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company measures certain assets and liabilities including cash and cash equivalents, our contingent consideration obligations associated with the acquisition of CDI and investments in trading securities at their estimated fair value on a recurring basis. The Company's non-financial assets such as goodwill, intangible assets and property, plant and equipment are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.
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.
Inventories
Inventories, which principally consists of parts used in assembly, are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Management judgment is necessary to estimate the fair value of assets and, accordingly, actual results could vary significantly from such estimates.
Restructuring
Restructuring generally includes significant actions involving employee-related severance charges, contract termination costs, and impairment or accelerated depreciation/amortization of assets associated with such actions. These charges are reflected in the quarter when the actions are probable and the amounts are estimable, which is typically when management approves the associated actions. Contract termination and other charges primarily reflect costs to terminate a contract before the end of its term or costs that will continue to be incurred under the contract for its remaining term without economic benefit to the Company. Asset impairment charges related to intangible assets and property, plant and equipment reflect the excess of the assets' carrying values over their fair values.
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. We base our estimates for returns on historical experience and have not experienced significant fluctuations between estimated and actual return activity.
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 associated with stand-alone service arrangements (such as maintenance arrangements) that are sold separately is recorded ratably over the service period.
Rebates
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.
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
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Reform Act”). The Tax Reform Act makes broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code, including, but not limited to, (1) reducing the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent; (2) requiring companies to pay a one-time transition tax on certain unrepatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries; (3) generally eliminating U.S. federal income taxes on dividends from foreign subsidiaries; (4) requiring a current inclusion in U.S. federal taxable income of certain earnings of controlled foreign corporations; (5) eliminating the corporate alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) and changing how existing AMT credits can be realized; (6) creating the base erosion anti-abuse tax, a new minimum tax; (7) creating a new limitation on deductible interest expense; and (8) changing rules related to uses and limitations of net operating loss carryforwards created in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. We have discussed the provisions that affect the Company’s financial statements in further detail where appropriate.
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. Due to the Tax Reform Act’s reduction in corporate statutory tax rates effective after 2017, we have remeasured our deferred tax assets effective December 31, 2017 where appropriate.
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.
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 performance targets were not met for the outstanding stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) and will be subsequently canceled.
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.
Income (Loss) per Common Share
Basic income (loss) per common share is calculated using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year. Unvested restricted stock and treasury shares are excluded from the calculation of basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Once restricted stock vests, it is included in our common shares outstanding.
Diluted income (loss) 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. Since the exercise price of our stock options is greater than the average market price of the Company's common stock for the period, we did not include dilutive common equivalent shares for these instruments in the computation of diluted income (loss) per common share because the effect would be anti-dilutive.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU No. 2014-09 represents a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which a company expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU sets forth a new five-step revenue recognition model which replaces the prior revenue recognition guidance in its entirety and is intended to eliminate numerous industry-specific pieces of revenue recognition guidance that have historically existed. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, which defers the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 by one year, but permits companies to adopt one year earlier if they choose (i.e., the original effective date). As such, ASU No. 2014-09 will be effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. In March and April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Consideration (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) and ASU No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, respectively, which clarifies the guidance on reporting revenue as a principal versus agent, identifying performance obligations and accounting for intellectual property licenses. In addition, in May 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, which amends certain narrow aspects of Topic 606, and in December 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which amends certain narrow aspects of Topic 606. The new standard permits two methods of adoption: the full retrospective method, which requires the standard to be applied to each prior period presented, or the modified retrospective method, which requires the cumulative effect of adoption to be recognized as an adjustment to opening retained earnings in the period of adoption. The Company will adopt the standard beginning in the first quarter of 2018 using the modified retrospective method. The Company is currently finalizing its analysis of the impact of ASU No. 2014-09 on its consolidated results of operations and financial position.  The new standard will result in additional revenue-related disclosures in the footnotes to the consolidated financial statements. The Company expects the revenue recognition for its portfolio of hardware, software and services offerings to remain largely unchanged. Any impacts to revenue recognition are not expected to be material. Since the Company currently expenses sales commissions as incurred, the requirement in the new standard to capitalize certain sales commissions will result in an accounting change for the Company. This change is not expected to be material to the consolidated financial results, with no impact to cash flows. We will be finalizing our assessment in advance of the filing of our first quarter 2018 Form 10-Q.
In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern (Sub-Topic 205-40), which provides guidance on management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. This standard is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016 and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. The adoption of this standard on January 1, 2017 has not had an 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. ASU No. 2015-11 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. This standard was effective prospectively beginning January 1, 2017, with early adoption permitted. This standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or 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. ASU No. 2016-01 also amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments. The 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). ASU No. 2016-01 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. 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 does not expect a material impact from adopting this standard on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which establishes a right-of-use ("ROU") model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. ASU No. 2016-02 will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees with capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
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 was effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of 2017. This standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.
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 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 ASU No. 2016-17, 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 ASU No. 2016-17, in certain cases, previous consolidation conclusions may change. The standard was effective January 1, 2017 with retrospective application to January 1, 2016. This standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.
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 ASU No. 2016-18, 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 does not expect this standard to have a material impact on its consolidated statements of cash flows.
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which amends the requirements related to the presentation of the components of net periodic benefit cost for an entity’s sponsored defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. This ASU requires entities to (1) disaggregate the current-service-cost component from the other components of net benefit cost (the “other components”) and present it with other current compensation costs for related employees in the income statement and (2) present the other components elsewhere in the income statement and outside of income from operations if such a subtotal is presented. In addition, only service costs are eligible for capitalization. The standard will be effective in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not expect a material impact from adopting this standard on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Scope of Modification Accounting. This ASU provides clarification on when modification accounting should be used for changes to the terms and conditions of a share-based payment award. This ASU does not change the accounting for modifications but clarifies that modification accounting guidance should only be applied if there is a change to the value, vesting conditions, or award classification and would not be required if the changes are considered non-substantive. The standard will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. The amendment should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The Company is currently assessing the impact of adopting this standard on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.  This ASU seeks to help entities reclassify certain stranded income tax effects in accumulated other comprehensive income resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (Tax Reform Act), enacted on December 22, 2017.  ASU 2018-02 was issued in response to concerns regarding current guidance in GAAP that requires deferred tax liabilities and assets to be adjusted for the effect of a change in tax laws or rates with the effect included in income from continuing operations in the reporting period that includes the enactment date, even in situations in which the related income tax effects of items in accumulated other comprehensive income were originally recognized in other comprehensive income, rather than net income, and as a result the stranded tax effects would not reflect the appropriate tax rate.  The amendments of this ASU allow an entity to make a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for the stranded tax effects, which is the difference between the historical corporate income tax rate of 35.0% and the newly enacted corporate income tax rate of 21.0%.  The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 31, 2018; however, public business entities are allowed to early adopt the amendments of ASU 2018-02 in any interim period for which the financial statements have not yet been issued.  The amendments of this ASU may be applied either at the beginning of the period (annual or interim) of adoption or retrospectively to each of the period(s) in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate tax rate in the Tax Reform Act is recognized.  The Company is currently assessing the impact of adopting this standard on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.