XML 38 R7.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.6
Basis of Presentation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Basis of Presentation

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of EPAM Systems, Inc. (the “Company” or “EPAM”) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and Article 10 of Regulation S-X under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements (and notes thereto) for the year ended December 31, 2012. In the Company’s opinion, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been included, and all adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. Operating results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected to occur for the entire year.

Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience, knowledge of current conditions and its beliefs of what could occur in the future, given available information. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to the financial statements.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments — The Company makes significant assumptions about fair values of its financial instruments. Where the fair values of financial assets and liabilities recorded in the consolidated balance sheet cannot be derived from an active market, they are determined using a variety of valuation techniques. These valuation techniques include a net present value technique, comparison to similar instruments with market observable inputs, options pricing models and other relevant valuation models. Inputs into these models are taken from observable market data whenever possible, but in instances where it is not feasible, a degree of judgment is required to establish fair values.

Cash and cash equivalents — are considered Level 1 measurements. For short-term financial assets such as cash and cash equivalents, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to the relatively short time between the origination of the instrument and its expected realization.

Restricted cash and time deposits — are considered Level 2 measurements. Fair values of Level 2 measurements are determined by analyzing quoted prices for similar assets in an active market, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable and market-corroborated inputs which are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. The carrying values of restricted cash and time deposits approximates their fair values.

Employee Housing Loans — The Company issues loans to its employees under the Employee Housing Program (“housing loans”). Housing loans are issued in U.S. Dollars with a 5 year term and carry an interest rate of 7.5%. The program was designed to be a retention mechanism for the Company’s employees in Belarus.

Although permitted by authoritative guidance, the Company didn’t elect a fair value option for these financial instruments. These housing loans are measured at fair value upon initial recognition and subsequently carried at amortized cost less allowance for loan losses. Any difference between the carrying value and the fair value of a loan upon initial recognition (“day-one” recognition) is charged to expense.

The housing loans were classified as Level 3 measurements within the fair value hierarchy because they were valued using significant unobservable inputs. The estimated fair value of these housing loans upon initial recognition was computed by projecting the future contractual cash flows to be received from the loans and discounting those projected net cash flows to a present value, which is the estimated fair value (the “Income Approach”). In applying the Income Approach, the Company analyzed similar loans offered by third-party financial institutions in Belarusian Rubles (“BYR”) and adjusted the interest rates charged on such loans to exclude the effects of underlying economic factors, such as inflation and currency devaluation. Additionally, the Company assessed the probability of future defaults and associated cash flows impact. Also, the Company separately analyzed the rate of return that market participants in Belarus would require when investing in unsecured USD-denominated government bonds with similar maturities (a “risk-free rate”) and evaluated a risk premium component to compensate the market participants for the credit and liquidity risks inherent in the loans’ cash flows, as described in the following paragraph. As a result of the analysis performed, the Company determined the carrying values of the housing loans issued during the quarter ended March 31, 2013, approximated their fair values upon initial recognition.

Repayment of housing loans is primarily dependent on personal income of borrowers obtained through employment with the Company, which income is set in U.S. Dollars and is not closely correlated with common macroeconomic risks existing in Belarus, such as inflation, local currency devaluation and a decrease in the purchasing power of the borrowers’ income. Given a large demand for the program among the Company’s employees and its advantages as compared to alternative methods of financing available on the market, the Company expects the borrowers to fulfill their obligations and estimates the probability of voluntary termination of employment among the borrowers as de minimis. Additionally, housing loans are capped at $50 per loan and secured by real-estate financed through the program. The Company establishes a maximum loan-to-value ratio of 70% and expects a decrease in the ratio over the life of a housing loan due to on-going payments by employees.

Employee loans, other — are short-term non-interest bearing relocation loans and other employee loans. These loans are considered Level 3 measurements. The Company’s Level 3, unobservable inputs reflect its assumptions about the factors that market participants use in pricing similar receivables, and are based on the best information available in the circumstances. Due to a short-term nature of employee loans, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to the relatively short time between the origination of the instrument and its expected realization.

Employee Loans — Loans are initially recorded at their fair value, and subsequently measured at their amortized cost, less allowance for loans losses, if any. The Company intends to hold all employee loans till their maturity. Interest income is reported using the effective interest method. Where applicable, loan origination fees, net of direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized in interest income over the life of the loan.

Generally, loans are placed on nonaccrual status at 90 days past due. The entire balance of a loan is considered delinquent if the minimum payment contractually required to be made is not received by the specified due date. All interest accrued but not collected for loans that are placed on nonaccrual is reversed against interest income. Subsequent payments on non-accrual loans are recorded as a reduction of principal, and interest income is recorded only after principal recovery is reasonably assured. Nonaccrual loans are returned to accrual status when, in the opinion of management, the financial position of the borrower indicates there is no longer any reasonable doubt as to the timely collection of interest or principal. Interest income on loans individually classified as impaired is recognized on a cash basis after all past due and current principal payments have been made.

Allowance for Loan Losses — The allowance for loan losses is established when losses are deemed to have occurred through a provision for loan losses charged to income and represents management’s estimate of probable credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio. Determining the amount of the allowance for loan losses is considered a critical accounting estimate because it requires significant judgment and the use of estimates related to the amount and timing of expected future cash flows on impaired loans, estimated fair value of collateral securing the loans, estimated losses on loans based on historical loss experience, and consideration of current economic trends and conditions, all of which may be susceptible to significant change.

Loans that exhibit probable or observed credit weaknesses are subject to individual review. Where appropriate, amounts of allowances are allocated to individual loans based on management’s estimate of the borrower’s ability to repay the loan given the availability of collateral, other sources of cash flow and legal options available to the Company. In its review, the Company evaluates the collectability of both principal and interest when assessing the need for a loss accrual. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed.

The general allowance covers loans for which no individual impairment has been identified. Groups of loans with similar risk characteristics are collectively evaluated for impairment based on the group’s historical loss experience adjusted for changes in trends, conditions and other relevant factors that affect repayment of the loans.

Write-offs of unrecoverable loans are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectability of a loan balance and any interest due thereon is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the provision for bad debts.

Off-balance sheet financial instruments — include credit instruments, such as commitments to make employee loans and related guarantees, standby letters of credit and guarantee issued under customer contracts. The face amount for these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering available collateral or the borrower’s ability to repay. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded. Loss contingencies arising from off-balance sheet credit exposures are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company does not believe there are such matters that will have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

 

Emerging growth company status — In April 2012, several weeks after EPAM’s initial public offering in February 2012, President Obama signed into law the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). The JOBS Act contains provisions that relax certain requirements for “emerging growth companies” that otherwise apply to larger public companies. For as long as a company retains emerging growth company status, which may be until the fiscal year-end after the fifth anniversary of its initial public offering, it will not be required to (1) provide an auditor’s attestation report on its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting, otherwise required by Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, (2) comply with any new or revised financial accounting standard applicable to public companies until such standard is also applicable to private companies, (3) comply with certain new requirements adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, (4) provide certain disclosure regarding executive compensation required of larger public companies or (5) hold shareholder advisory votes on matters relating to executive compensation.

EPAM is classified as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act and is eligible to take advantage of the accommodations described above for as long as it retains this status. However, EPAM has elected not to take advantage of the transition period described in (2) above, which is the exemption provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (in each case as amended by the JOBS Act) for complying with new or revised financial accounting standards. EPAM will therefore comply with new or revised financial accounting standards to the same extent that a non-emerging growth company is required to comply with such standards.