

Note 2	Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new revenue recognition guidance, which was subsequently updated and amended in 2015 and 2016. The guidance requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The new guidance will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective.

The guidance permits two methods of adoption: the full retrospective method where the standard would be applied to each prior reporting period presented and the cumulative effect of applying the standard would be recognized at the earliest period shown, or the modified retrospective method, where the cumulative effect of applying the standard would be recognized at the date of initial application. We will adopt the requirements of the new standard effective January 1, 2018, and expect to use the modified retrospective transition method with the cumulative effect to the opening balance of retained earnings recognized as of the date of initial adoption. We believe our evaluations and efforts are following an appropriate timeline for proper recognition, presentation and disclosure upon adoption, including the related impacts to our internal controls.

Our evaluation of the new standard has made significant progress, and we continue to monitor any authoritative and interpretive guidance issued by standard-setting bodies for impacts on our evaluations. Under the new standard, we currently expect the greatest impact in certain areas where we will be required to estimate usage which drives the underlying revenue. Under the current guidance, we do not recognize revenues until we achieve fixed and determinable status, which would typically be at a later date. However, our analysis is not complete and we may identify other areas of additional impact. We expect that the new standard will not have a cash impact and will not affect the economics of the underlying customer contracts. We expect that our disclosures in our notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements related to revenue recognition will be significantly expanded under the new standard, specifically around the quantitative and qualitative information about our underlying performance obligations.

In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to the accounting for leases by lessees. A major change in the new guidance is that lessees will be required to present right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. The new guidance will be effective for us on January 1, 2019. We will be evaluating the effect that the guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In November 2016, the FASB issued guidance on the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting for us on January 1, 2018. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our statement of cash flows.

In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance simplifying the test for goodwill impairment. The new guidance eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test, instead requiring an entity to recognize a goodwill impairment charge for the amount by which the reporting unit's carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair value. This guidance is effective for interim and annual goodwill impairment tests beginning on December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We will be evaluating the impact of the guidance, but do not currently expect the adoption to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

There have been no other recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements to be implemented that are of significance or potential significance to RealNetworks.