Newly Adopted Accounting Standards and Accounting Standards Not Yet Implemented

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

Newly Adopted Accounting Standards and Accounting Standards Not Yet Implemented

Newly Adopted Accounting Standards and Accounting Standards Not Yet Implemented

Newly Adopted Accounting Standards

Presentation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits. In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued accounting guidance requiring entities to present unrecognized tax benefits as a reduction to any related deferred tax assets for net operating losses, similar tax losses or tax credit carryforwards if such settlement is required or expected in the event an uncertain tax position is disallowed. Previously effective U.S. GAAP did not provide explicit guidance on the topic. The new presentation guidance became effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2013 (January 1, 2014 for the Company). The adoption of the guidance beginning January 1, 2014 had no material effect on the Company's results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or financial statement presentation.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Implemented

Going Concern. In August 2014, the FASB issued disclosure guidance that requires management to evaluate, at each annual and interim reporting period, whether substantial doubt exists about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern and, if applicable, to provide related disclosures. As outlined by that guidance, substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern exists when relevant conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, indicate that it is probable that an entity will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (or are available to be issued). The new guidance will be effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016 (the year ending December 31, 2016 for the Company) and interim periods thereafter, with early adoption permitted.

Revenue Recognition. In May 2014, the FASB issued a comprehensive revenue recognition standard that will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The new standard provides a single principles-based, five-step model to be applied to all contracts with customers, which steps are to (1) identify the contract(s) with the customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and (5) recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. More specifically, revenue will be recognized when promised goods or services are transferred to the customer in an amount that reflects the consideration expected in exchange for those goods or services. The standard also requires entities to disclose sufficient qualitative and quantitative information to enable financial statement users to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The new guidance will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 (January 1, 2017 for the Company) and the standard allows for either a full retrospective adoption or a modified retrospective adoption. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on its results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and financial statement presentation.

Discontinued Operations. In April 2014, the FASB issued accounting guidance that raised the threshold for disposals to qualify as discontinued operations to a disposal of a component or group of components that is disposed of or is classified as held for sale and represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results. Such a strategic shift may include the disposal of (1) a major geographical area of operations, (2) a major line of business, (3) a major equity method investment or (4) other major parts of an entity. Provided that the major strategic shift criterion is met, the new guidance does allow entities to have significant continuing involvement and continuing cash flows with the discontinued operation, unlike current U.S. GAAP. The new standard also requires additional disclosures for discontinued operations and new disclosures for individually material disposal transactions that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation. The new guidance will apply prospectively to disposals that occur in interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 31, 2014 (January 1, 2015 for the Company), with early adoption permitted for disposals or new classifications of assets as held for sale that have not been reported in previously issued financial statements. The impact to the Company's financial statements will depend on any disposal activity that occurs subsequent to the adoption date.