ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS [Abstract]

Share-based Compensation

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.  The objective of this update was to simplify several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including accounting for income taxes related to share-based compensation, the related classification in the statement of cash-flows, and accounting for share award forfeitures. This ASU was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2017.  As required by the adoption of this new guidance, the Company recognized excess tax benefits of $2.2 million and $3.0 million in the provision for income taxes as a discrete item for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively. Prior to January 1, 2017, excess tax benefits were recognized in equity.  As permitted, the Company elected to classify excess tax benefits as an operating activity in the Statement of Cash Flows instead of as a financing activity on a prospective basis and did not retroactively adjust prior periods.  As also permitted by the new guidance, beginning January 1, 2017 the Company has elected to account for share award forfeitures as they occur.  Previously, share-based compensation expense was recorded net of estimated forfeitures.  A cumulative adjustment of $2.8 million was recorded to retained earnings and additional paid-in capital as of January 1, 2017.  Prior periods were not retroactively adjusted.