

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 will 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.

Under the new standard, the greatest impact will be 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. We also expect an impact related to the licensing of our RealTimes and RealPlayer products. As we transition to the new revenue standard, we will recognize the revenue predominantly at the time of delivery rather than over the contract period, which results in an acceleration of revenue. Revenue recognition for all other product lines will not be be significantly impacted. The new standard will not have a cash impact and will not affect the economics of the underlying customer contracts.

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. Our assessment of impacts resulting from the new standard is substantially complete, including the impact on our controls and differences in the timing or method of revenue recognition for our contracts. As a result of our evaluation, we have modified certain accounting policies and practices and updated certain existing controls. We also designed and implemented specific controls over our evaluation of the impact of the new standard, including our calculation of the cumulative adjustment to Retained Deficit. As a result of the new standard, based on currently executed contracts, we expect to record a cumulative adjustment increasing our Retained Deficit on January 1, 2018 of approximately $1.0 million to $1.5 million.

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, including interim periods within 2019. We will continue to evaluate the effect that the guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. We expect that the guidance will result in a material change to our Consolidated Balance Sheet as a result of capitalizing certain of our operating leases.

In November 2016, the FASB issued new 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 qualitative 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.