3. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Recent accounting guidance adopted in 2017

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. The amendments in this ASU provide clarity and reduce both diversity in practice and cost and complexity when applying the guidance in Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, to a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. Stakeholders observed that the definition of the term modification is broad and that its interpretation results in diversity in practice. The amendments in this update provide further guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. For all public entities, ASU 2017-09 is effective for annual periods and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017; early adoption is permitted. We have evaluated and early adopted this guidance. The adoption did not impact the presentation of our financial condition, results of operations and disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The amendments in this ASU modify the concept of impairment from the condition that exists when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value to the condition that exists when the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. An entity no longer will determine goodwill impairment by calculating the implied fair value of goodwill by assigning fair value of a reporting unit to all its assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination, eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment tests. For all public entities, ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual periods and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019; early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates on or after January 1, 2017. We have evaluated and adopted this guidance. The adoption did not significantly impact the presentation of our financial condition, results of operations and disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-03, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (Topic 250) and Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcements at the September 22, 2016 and November 17, 2016 EITF Meetings. The amendments in this ASU announced disclosure of the impact that recently issued accounting standards will have on the financial statements of a registrant when such standards are adopted in a future period. The amendment provides SEC staff views that a registrant should evaluate ASUs that have not yet been adopted to determine the appropriate financial statement disclosures and the potential material effects of those ASUs on the financial statements when adopted. The changes and corrections within this guidance did not significantly impact the presentation of our financial condition, results of operations and disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This ASU simplified several aspects of accounting for share-based payment award transactions including the accounting for income taxes, classification of excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows, classification of employee taxes paid on the statement of cash flows when the employer withholds shares, forfeiture policy election and payroll minimum statutory withholding. The changes in the new standard eliminate the accounting for excess tax benefits to be recognized in additional paid-in capital and tax deficiencies recognized either in the income tax provision or in additional paid-in capital. We have evaluated each component of this guidance listed below and adopted the new standard beginning in 2017.

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Accounting for Income Taxes: The primary impact of adoption is the recognition of excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies recorded in the statement of (loss) income and comprehensive (loss) income when stock awards vest or are settled, rather than paid-in capital for all periods beginning in 2017. For the year ended December 31, 2017 we recognized approximately $1.1 million of unfavorable adjustment within our tax provision associated with the adoption of 2016-09, which increased our annual effective tax rate by 3.2%. The Company evaluated the unrecognized excess tax benefits as of December 31, 2016 on a cumulative retrospective basis and determined it did not have any impact to retained earnings and deferred tax assets as of the January 1, 2017 adoption date.

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Classification of Cash Flow: The adoption of this ASU has no material impact on our presentation of the statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2017. We have elected to apply the presentation requirements for cash flows related to cash payments for employee taxes made by the Company on the employees’ behalf for withheld shares to be reported as financing activities for all periods presented. The presentation requirements for cash flows related to excess tax benefits have no impact to any of the periods presented on our consolidated cash flow statements.

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Accounting for Forfeitures: The Company accounted for estimated forfeitures in the amount of compensation cost recognized in each period, and has continued to do so under the new guidance; therefore, the adoption has had no impact related to forfeitures.

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Minimum Statutory Tax Withholding: The new guidance contains an option which allows employees to withhold tax amounts up to the employees’ maximum individual tax rate, which provides the Company an ability to repurchase more of its employees’ shares without triggering liability accounting. This change has not impacted the presentation of our financial statements or disclosures.

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Earnings per Share (“EPS”): The primary impact of adoption is the elimination of the calculation of assumed proceeds from windfalls and shortfalls under the treasury stock method, which results in fewer hypothetical repurchases of shares and higher incremental shares being issued, having a dilutive effect on EPS. The impact of this change on our EPS was immaterial for any reporting period during 2017, and we expect it to continue to be immaterial for future periods.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. The amendments in this ASU require that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. For all public entities, ASU 2016-18 is effective for annual periods and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017; early adoption is permitted for all organizations for annual periods and interim periods. We have evaluated and adopted this guidance beginning 2017 for all periods presented. The adoption did not significantly impact the presentation of our financial condition, results of operations and disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-07, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting. The amendments in this ASU eliminate the requirement that when an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence, an investor must adjust the investments, results of operations, and retained earnings retroactively on a step-by-step basis as if the equity method was in effect during all previous periods. The amendment requires an equity method investor to add the cost of acquisition and requires available-for-sale equity securities that qualify for the equity method of accounting to recognize earnings as unrealized holding gains or losses in accumulated other comprehensive income. For all entities, ASU 2016-07 is effective for annual periods and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We have evaluated and adopted this guidance beginning 2017. The adoption did not materially impact the presentation of our financial condition, results of operations and disclosures.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. The amendments in this ASU require an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value, further clarifying consideration for net realizable value as estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. This ASU more closely aligns the measurement of inventory in GAAP with the measurement of inventory in International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). For public business entities, ASU 2015-11 is effective for annual periods and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The amendment in this ASU is prospectively applied. We have evaluated and adopted this guidance beginning 2017. The adoption did not significantly impact the presentation of our financial condition, results of operations and disclosures.

Accounting guidance to be adopted in 2018

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-05, Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets. The amendments in this ASU clarify and provide guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets and recognizing gains and losses from the transfer of nonfinancial assets in contracts with noncustomers. For all public entities, ASU 2017-05 is effective for annual reporting periods and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017; early adoption is permitted for all organizations for annual periods and interim periods. We are currently evaluating this guidance and believe the adoption will not significantly impact the presentation of our financial condition, results of operations and disclosures.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. The amendments in this ASU improve the accounting for the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory by reducing complexity in accounting standards. The amendments eliminate the exception prohibiting the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory until the asset has been sold to an outside party. For all public entities, ASU 2016-16 is effective for annual periods and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017; early adoption is permitted for all organizations for annual periods and interim periods. We are currently evaluating this guidance and believe the adoption will not significantly impact the presentation of our financial condition, results of operations and disclosures.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The amendments in this ASU address eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows under Topic 230. The eight topics include debt prepayment or extinguishments costs, settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from settlement of insurance claims, proceeds from settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, distributions received from equity method investees, beneficial interests in securitization transactions and separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. For all public business entities, ASU 2016-15 is effective for annual periods and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017; early adoption is permitted for all organizations for annual periods and interim periods. We are currently evaluating this guidance and believe the adoption will not significantly impact the presentation of our financial condition, results of operations and disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), a new accounting standard intended to improve and converge the financial reporting requirements between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards, which will supersede virtually all existing revenue recognition guidance under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The fundamental principles of the new guidance are that companies should recognize revenue in a manner that reflects the timing of the transfer of services to customers and the amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration that a company expects to receive for the goods and services provided. The new guidance establishes a five step approach for the recognition of revenue. ASU No. 2014-09 is effective for us beginning January 1, 2018.

Implementation Update

We completed the assessment of our evaluation of the impact of the new standard on our accounting policies, processes and system requirements. We intend to adopt the new standard based on the modified retrospective transition method and do not expect a cumulative effect adjustment to accumulated deficit based on our assessment. We completed the assessment of all potential impacts under the new revenue standard, including the areas described below, and have reached conclusions on key accounting assessments related to the standard. We do not expect the impact of the new revenue standard on our financial statements to be significant. We do expect a significant increase in the level of disclosures under ASU 2014-09.

Technical Analysis Update

Our revenue is derived primarily from academic programs taught to our students. Tuition and other tuition-related fees are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over either the academic term or the program period based on number of days within such period. Non-tuition related revenue is recognized as services are performed or goods are delivered. See Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” for further details. We analyzed each source of revenue stream that will remain as of the implementation date to evaluate the five step approach from the principles-based guidance (Topic 606) and developed an assessment to determine any impact to existing practices for revenue recognition. The key revenue component considerations evaluated were as follows:

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Tuition and tuition-related fees

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Other revenue (‘non-tuition’), primarily ancillary sales of program related materials or supplies

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Types of funding a student receives, i.e. Title IV Program funds, Veterans’ Administration funds, employer reimbursement, personal loans, etc. See Item 1, “Business – Student Financial Aid and Related Federal Regulation” for further discussion on various types of funding

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Types of institutional (i.e. non-third party) scholarships provided to students

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Student status (i.e. in-school or out-of-school)

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Length of program or term

We completed the assessment of various contractual arrangements and performance obligations for each type of revenue stream, and we reasonably expect the core contractual or performance obligations to remain similar in substance and not differ materially from considering each contract or performance obligation separate. We do not expect our revenue recognition methodology, i.e. tuition revenue recognized on a straight-line basis over the academic term, to differ under the new guidance. We expect to elect and utilize the ‘portfolio’ approach when analyzing our student contracts, policies, processes and controls for revenue recognition. We reasonably expect that the impact of applying the portfolio approach will not differ materially from considering each contract individually.

Our evaluation covered the collectability criteria under the new guidance. We believe we can apply the portfolio approach when assessing collectability due to the significant amount of historical data that we retain.

We completed the assessment of the impacts related to the accounting for contract assets separate from accounts receivable and evaluated the point at which a student’s contract asset becomes a receivable. Currently, a student’s entire accounts receivable balance is evaluated along with their entire deferred revenue balance to determine the net position of the two. We determined the point at which a contract asset becomes a receivable and at this point, this amount will no longer be offset with a student’s deferred revenue balance. This change in presentation is expected to have an immaterial impact to the consolidated balance sheet.

Based on our assessment, we do not anticipate the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have a significant impact on the presentation of our results of operations; however, we expect additional modifications to the presentation of our financial condition and disclosures around certain policies, practices and systems.

Recent accounting guidance not yet adopted

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The amendments in this ASU require a financial asset measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected and credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. For all public business entities, ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual periods and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019; early adoption is permitted for all organizations for annual periods and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. We are currently evaluating this guidance and believe the adoption will not significantly impact the presentation of our financial condition, results of operations and disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The objective of Topic 842 is to establish transparency and comparability that lessees and lessors shall apply to report useful information to users of financial statements about the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from a lease. The core principle of Topic 842 is that lessees should recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases. All leases create an asset and liability for the lessee in accordance with FASB Concept Statements No. 6 Elements of Financial Statements, and, therefore, recognition of those lease assets and liabilities represents an improvement over previous GAAP. The accounting applied for lessors largely remained unchanged. The amendment in this ASU requires recognition of a lease liability and a right to use asset at the lease inception date. For all public business entities, ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual periods and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018; early adoption is permitted. While we are continuing to assess all potential impacts of the standard, we currently believe the most significant impact primarily relates to our accounting for real estate leases and real estate subleases. We expect to have a material amount now reported as a right of use asset and lease liability related to these leases as well as expect to separate lease components from the non-lease components for recognition. We will be required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach beginning with January 1, 2017. We are currently evaluating this guidance and believe the adoption will significantly impact the presentation of our financial condition and disclosures, but will not significantly impact our results of operations.