Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Our consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions. Equity investments over which we are able to exercise significant influence but do not control the investee are accounted for using the equity method.

We determine whether we have a controlling financial interest in an entity by first evaluating whether the entity is a voting interest entity or a variable interest entity, or VIE. Voting interest entities are entities that have sufficient equity and provide equity investor voting rights that give them power to make significant decisions relating to the entity’s operations. The usual condition for a controlling financial interest in a voting interest entity is ownership of a majority voting interest. In VIEs, a controlling financial interest is attained through means other than voting rights and the entities lack one or more of the characteristics of a voting entity.

We account for our unconsolidated investments in businesses under the cost or equity method dependent on factors such as percent ownership and factors that would determine significant influence. Our cost method investments are recorded at cost. Equity method investments are recorded at cost and adjusted to record our share of the company’s undistributed gains and losses in our consolidated statements of operations. We evaluate our cost and equity method investments for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that carrying amount of such investments may not be recoverable.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Our estimates, judgments and assumptions are continually evaluated based on available information and experience. Because of the use of estimates inherent in the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates are used when accounting for revenue recognition, allowances for doubtful accounts receivable, allowance for hardware returns, estimates of obsolete inventory, long-term incentive compensation, stock-based compensation, income taxes, legal reserves, contingent consideration and goodwill and intangible assets.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid instruments purchased with an original maturity from the date of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are principally derived from sales to customers located in the United States and Canada. Substantially all of our sales in Canada are transacted in U.S. dollars. During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, less than 1% of our revenue was generated outside of North America and as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, 3% and 2% of accounts receivable balances were related to service providers partners outside of North America. Our accounts receivable are stated at estimated realizable value. We utilize the allowance method to provide for doubtful accounts based on management’s evaluation of the collectibility of the amounts due. Our estimate is based on historical collection experience and a review of the current status of accounts receivable. Each of our service provider partners is evaluated for creditworthiness through a credit review process at the inception of the arrangement or if risk indicators arise during our arrangement at such other time. Our terms for hardware sales to our service provider partners and distributors typically allow for returns for up to one year. We apply our estimate as a percentage of sales monthly, based on historical data, as a reserve against revenue to account for our provision for returns. We have not experienced write-offs for uncollectible accounts or sales returns that have differed significantly from our estimates.

Inventory

Our inventory, which is comprised of raw materials and finished goods, includes materials used to produce our wireless communications network enabled radios, video cameras, home automation system parts and peripherals, is stated at the lower of cost or market, and is charged to cost of sales on a first in, first out, or FIFO, basis when the inventory is shipped from our manufacturer and received by our service provider partners. We periodically evaluate our inventory quantities for obsolescence based on criteria such as customer demand and changing technology and record an obsolescence write down when necessary.

Marketable Securities

In 2014, we had investments in marketable equity securities consisting of available for sale securities, which were stated at fair value, with unrealized gains and temporary unrealized losses reported as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax, until realized. When realized, we recognized gains and losses on the sales of the securities on a specific identification method and include the realized gains or losses in other income / (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations. We included interest, dividends, and amortization of premium or discount on securities classified as available for sale in other income / (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations.

Internal-Use Software

We capitalize the costs directly related to the design of internal-use software for development of our platform during the application development stage of the projects. The costs are primarily comprised of salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation expense of the projects’ engineers and product development teams. Our internally developed software is reported at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation begins once the project is ready for its intended use, which is usually when the code goes into production in weekly software builds on our platform. We depreciate the asset on a straight-line basis over a period of three years, which is the estimated useful life. We utilize continuous agile development methods to update our software for our SaaS multi-tenant platform on a weekly basis, which primarily consists of bug-fixes and user interface changes. We evaluate whether a project should be capitalized if it adds significant functionality to our platform. Maintenance activities or minor upgrades are expensed in the period performed.

Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue

We derive our revenue from two primary sources: the sale of cloud-based SaaS services on our integrated platform and the sale of hardware products. We sell our platform and hardware solutions to service provider partners that resell our solutions and hardware to home and business owners, who are the service provider partners’ customers, and whom we refer to as our subscribers. We also sell our hardware to distributors who resell the hardware to service provider partners. We enter into contracts with our service provider partners that establish pricing for access to our platform solutions and for the sale of hardware. These contracts typically have an initial term of one year, with subsequent renewal terms of one year. Our service provider partners typically enter into contracts with our subscribers, which our service provider partners have indicated range from three to five years in length.

Our hardware includes cellular radio modules that enable access to our cloud-based platform, as well as video cameras, image sensors and other peripherals. Our service provider partners may purchase our hardware in anticipation of installing the hardware in a home or business when they create a new subscriber account, or for use in an existing subscriber’s property. The purchase of hardware occurs in a transaction that is separate and typically in advance of the purchase of our platform services. Service provider partners transact with us to purchase our platform solutions and resell our solutions to a new subscriber, or to upgrade or downgrade the solutions of an existing subscriber, at which time the subscriber’s access to our platform solutions is enabled and the delivery of the services commences. The purchase of platform solutions and the purchase of hardware are separate transactions because at the time of sale of the hardware, the service provider partner is not obligated to and may not purchase a platform solution for the hardware sold, and the level and duration of platform solutions, if any, to be provided through the hardware sold cannot be determined.

We recognize revenue with respect to our solutions when all of the following conditions are met:


•	Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists;


•	Delivery to the customer, which may be either a service provider partner, distributor or a subscriber, has occurred or service has been rendered;


•	Fees are fixed or determinable; and


•	Collection of the fees is reasonably assured.

We consider a signed contract with a service provider partner to be persuasive evidence that an agreement exists, and the fees to be fixed or determinable if the fees are contractually agreed to with our service provider partners. Collectibility is evaluated based on a number of factors, including a credit review of new service provider partners, and the payment history of existing service provider partners. If collectibility is not reasonably assured, revenue is deferred until collection becomes reasonably assured, which is generally upon the receipt of payment.

SaaS and License Revenue

We generate the majority of our SaaS and license revenue primarily from monthly fees charged to our service provider partners sold on a per subscriber basis for access to our cloud-based intelligently connected property platform and related solutions. Our fees per subscriber vary based upon the service plan and features utilized.

Under terms in our contractual arrangements with our service provider partners, we are entitled to payment and recognize revenue based on a monthly fee that is billed in advance of the month of service. We have demonstrated that we can sell our SaaS offering on a stand-alone basis, as it can be sold separately from hardware and activation services. As there is neither a minimum required initial service term nor a stated renewal term in our contractual arrangements, we recognize revenue over the period of service, which is monthly. Our service provider partners typically incur and pay the same monthly fee per subscriber account for the entire period a subscriber account is active.

We offer multiple service level packages for our solutions including a range of solutions and a range of a la carte add-ons for additional features. The fee paid by our service provider partners each month for the delivery of our solutions is based on the combination of packages and add-ons enabled for each subscriber. We utilize tiered pricing plans where our service provider partners may receive prospective pricing discounts driven by volume.

We also generate SaaS and license revenue from the fees paid to us when we license our intellectual property to service provider partners on a per customer basis for use of our patents. In addition, in some markets our EnergyHub subsidiary sells its demand response software with an annual service fee, with pricing based on the number of subscribers or amount of aggregate electricity demand made available for a utility’s or market’s control.

Hardware and Other Revenue

We generate hardware and other revenue primarily from the sale of cellular radio modules that provide access to our cloud-based platform and, to a lesser extent, the sale of other devices, including video cameras, image sensors and peripherals. We recognize hardware and other revenue when the hardware is received by our service provider partner or distributor, net of a reserve for estimated returns. Amounts due from the sale of hardware are payable in accordance with the terms of our agreements with our service provider partners or distributors, and are not contingent on resale to end-users, or to service provider partners in the case of sales of hardware to distributors. Our terms for hardware sales sold directly to either service provider partners or distributors typically allow for the return of hardware up to one year past the date of sale. Our distributors sell directly to our service provider partners under terms between the two parties. We record a percentage of hardware and other revenue of approximately 2 to 5%, based on historical returns, as a reserve against revenue for hardware returns. We evaluate our hardware reserve on a quarterly basis or if there is an indication of significant changes in return experience. Historically, our returns of hardware have not significantly differed from our estimated reserve.

Hardware and other revenue also includes activation fees charged to service provider partners for activation of a new subscriber account on our platform, as well as fees paid by service provider partners for our marketing services. Our service provider partners use services on our platform, such as support tools and applications, to assist in the installation of our solutions in a subscriber’s property. This installation marks the beginning of the service period on our platform and on occasion, we earn activation revenue for fees charged for this service. The activation fee is non-refundable, separately negotiated and specified in our contractual arrangements with our service provider partners and is charged to the service provider partner for each subscriber activated on our platform. Activation fees are not offered on a stand-alone basis separate from our SaaS offering and are billed and received at the beginning of the arrangement. We record activation fees initially as deferred revenue and we recognize these fees ratably over the expected term of the subscribers’ account which we estimate is ten years based on our annual attrition rate. The portion of these activation fees included in current and long-term deferred revenue as of our balance sheet date represents the amounts that will be recognized ratably as revenue over the following twelve months, or longer as appropriate, until the ten-year expected term is complete.

Cost of Revenue

Our cost of SaaS and license revenue primarily includes the amounts paid to wireless network providers and, to a lesser extent, the costs of running our network operation centers which are expensed as incurred. Our cost of hardware and other revenue primarily includes cost of raw materials and amounts paid to our third-party manufacturer for production and fulfillment of our cellular radio modules and image sensors, and procurement costs for our video cameras, which we purchase from an original equipment manufacturer, and other devices. Our cost of revenue excludes amortization and depreciation.

Fair Value Measurements

The accounting standard for fair value measurements provides a framework for measuring fair value and requires disclosures regarding fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for an asset or the exit price that would be paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. This accounting standard established a fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs, where available. The following summarizes the three levels of inputs:

Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity can access at the measurement date;

Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for similar assets and liabilities, either directly or indirectly; quoted prices in markets that are not active; and

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity.

The carrying amount of financial assets, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates fair value because of the short maturity and liquidity of those instruments.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis - In 2014, we had an available for sale investment and derivatives that were recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. In 2015 and 2016, we recorded at fair value on a recurring basis a liability for two subsidiary awards and a contingent consideration liability related to an acquisition.

Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis - We measure certain assets, including property and equipment, goodwill, intangible and long-lived assets, cost and equity method investments at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. These assets are recognized at fair value when they are deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consists principally of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivables. All of our cash and cash equivalents are held at financial institutions that management believes to be of high credit quality. Our cash and cash equivalent accounts may exceed federally insured limits at times. We have not experienced any losses on cash and cash equivalents to date. To manage accounts receivable risk, we evaluate the credit worthiness of our service provider partners and maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts. The majority of our accounts receivable balance is due from our service provider partners in North America. We assess the concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivables based on one industry and geographic region and believe that our reserve for uncollectible accounts is appropriate based on our history and this concentration.

Stock-Based Compensation

We compensate our executive officers, board of directors, employees and consultants with incentive stock-based compensation plans under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, or 2015 Plan. We record stock-based compensation expense based upon the award’s grant date fair value and use an accelerated attribution method, net of estimated forfeitures, in which compensation cost for each vesting tranche in an award is recognized ratably from the service inception date to the vesting date for that tranche. Our equity awards generally vest over five years and are settled in shares of our common stock. During 2016, 2015 and 2014, we recognized compensation expense of $4.0 million, $4.1 million and $3.3 million, and associated income tax benefit of $5.0 million, $0.7 million, and $0.8 million, respectively, in connection with our stock-based compensation plans. We account for stock-based compensation arrangements with non-employees using a fair value approach. The fair value of these options is measured using the Black-Scholes option pricing model reflecting the same assumptions as applied to employee options in each of the reported periods, other than the expected life, which is assumed to be the remaining contractual life of the option. The compensation costs of these arrangements are subject to remeasurement over the vesting terms, as earned.

Our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or 2015 ESPP, allows eligible employees to purchase shares of our common stock at 90% of the fair market value of the closing price on the purchase date. The maximum number of shares of our common stock that a participant may purchase during any calendar year is limited to the lesser of 10% of the participant's base compensation for that year or the number of shares with a fair marked value of $15,000. The 2015 ESPP is considered compensatory for purposes of share-based compensation expense. Compensation expense is recognized for the amount of the discount, net of forfeitures, over the six-month purchase period.

401(k) Defined Contribution Plan

We adopted the Alarm.com Holdings 401(k) Plan ("the Plan") on April 30, 2009. All of our employees are eligible to participate in the Plan. Our discretionary match is 100% of employee contributions up to 6% of salary and up to a $3,000 maximum match.

Business Combinations

We are required to allocate the purchase price of acquired companies to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date based upon their estimated fair values. The net assets and results of operations of an acquired entity are included in our consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred. Goodwill as of the acquisition date represents the excess of the purchase consideration of an acquired business over the fair value of the underlying net tangible and intangible assets acquired net of liabilities assumed. This allocation and valuation require management to make significant estimates and assumptions, especially with respect to long-lived and intangible assets.

Critical estimates in valuing intangible assets include, but are not limited to, estimates about future expected cash flows from customer contracts, customer lists, proprietary technology and non-competition agreements, the acquired company’s brand awareness and market position, assumptions about the period of time the brand will continue to be used in our solutions, as well as expected costs to develop the in-process research and development into commercially viable products and estimated cash flows from the projects when completed, and discount rates. Our estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions we believe to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. Assumptions may be incomplete or inaccurate, and unanticipated events and circumstances may occur.

Other estimates associated with the accounting for these acquisitions may change as additional information becomes available regarding the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Goodwill, Intangible Assets and Long-lived Assets

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of (1) the aggregate of the fair value of consideration transferred in a business combination, over (2) the fair value of assets acquired, net of liabilities assumed. Goodwill is allocated to our reporting units, which are our operating segments or one level below our operating segments. Goodwill is not amortized, but is subject to annual impairment tests. We perform our annual impairment review of goodwill on October 1^st and when a triggering event occurs between annual impairment tests. We test our goodwill at the reporting unit level. We perform a qualitative analysis every year and, at minimum, a quantitative analysis every three years. We review goodwill for impairment using the two-step process if, based on our assessment of the qualitative factors, we determine that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value.

For our 2016 annual impairment review, we performed a qualitative assessment for our Alarm.com reporting unit, our only reporting unit with a goodwill balance. This reporting unit had a fair value that exceeded its carrying value by more than 100% in the last quantitative assessment performed in 2014. We first assessed qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. Qualitative factors we consider include, but are not limited to, macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, company specific events, changes in circumstances and market capitalization. For the year ended December 31, 2016, we assessed the qualitative factors and determined that it was more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeded the carrying value and that the two-step impairment test was not required. Our assessment was performed as of October 1, 2016, and we have determined there have been no triggering events from our assessment date through December 31, 2016.

If a two-step impairment test is required, the fair value of the reporting unit is compared with its carrying value (including goodwill). If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, an indication of goodwill impairment exists for the reporting unit and step two is required to measure the amount of the impairment, if any. Under step two, an impairment loss is recognized for any excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill over the implied fair value of that goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation and the residual fair value after this allocation is the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill. If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value, an impairment charge would be recorded to operating expenses in the period the determination is made. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, step two does not need to be performed.

Intangible Assets and Long-lived Assets

Intangible assets are initially valued at fair value using generally accepted valuation methods appropriate for the type of intangible asset. Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives and are reviewed for impairment if indicators of impairment arise. The fair value of the intangible assets is compared with their carrying value and an impairment loss would be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value.

We evaluate the recoverability of our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of long-lived assets are measured by comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate. If the asset is considered to be impaired, the amount of any impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the impaired asset.

Advertising Costs

We expense advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs totaled $4.6 million, $3.7 million and $5.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014. Advertising costs are included within sales and marketing expenses on our consolidated statements of operations.

Accounting for Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method as required by accounting standards codification, or ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that are included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

We record net deferred tax assets to the extent we believe these assets will more likely than not be realized. In making such a determination, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. During 2013, in connection with the EnergyHub acquisition, we acquired significant net operating losses, a deferred tax asset, which we recorded at its expected realizable value. Based on our historical and expected future taxable earnings, we believe it is more likely than not that we will realize all of the benefit of the existing deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015. Accordingly, we have not recorded a valuation allowance as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.

We are subject to income taxes in the United States and other foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in evaluating uncertain tax positions. We record uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740-10 on the basis of a two-step process whereby (1) we determine whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained based on the technical merits of the position, and (2) with respect to those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, we recognize the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority. We record interest and penalties as a component of our income tax provision.

Earnings per Share, or EPS

Our basic net income / (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing the net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period.

Our diluted net income / (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by giving effect to all potentially dilutive common stock when determining the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. For purposes of the diluted net income / (loss) per share calculation, options to purchase common stock, redeemable convertible preferred stock, and unvested shares issued upon the early exercise of options that are subject to repurchase are considered to be potential common stock.

We have issued securities other than common stock that participate in dividends (“participating securities”), and therefore utilize the two-class method to calculate net income / (loss) per share. These participating securities include redeemable convertible preferred stock and unvested shares issued upon the early exercise of options that are subject to repurchase, both of which have non-forfeitable rights to participate in any dividends declared on our common stock. The two-class method requires a portion of net income to be allocated to the participating securities to determine the net income / (loss) attributable to common stockholders. Net income / (loss) attributable to the common stockholders is equal to the net income less dividends paid on preferred stock and unvested shares with any remaining earnings allocated in accordance with the bylaws between the outstanding common and preferred stock as of the end of each period.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Adopted

On August 26, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments,” which provides guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows with the objective of reducing existing diversity in practice. The amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted and the amendment is required to be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. We adopted this pronouncement in the fourth quarter of 2016. We retrospectively reclassified $417 thousand from business acquisitions, net of cash acquired (an investing cash outflow) to payments for long-term business acquisition liabilities (a financing cash outflow) for the year ended December 31, 2015. There was no impact to the year ended December 31, 2014.

On August 27, 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements — Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40),” which requires us to perform interim and annual assessments regarding conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about a company’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related disclosures, if applicable. The amendment is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and interim periods thereafter, with early adoption permitted. We adopted this pronouncement in the fourth quarter of 2016, and concluded there were no events or conditions that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for the twelve month period after our financial statements are issued.

On September 25, 2015, the FASB, issued ASU 2015-16, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments,” which requires entities to apply the guidance prospectively to adjustments to provisional amounts that occur after the effective date. Under the previous guidance, the acquirer would retrospectively adjust provisional amounts recognized as of the acquisition date with a corresponding adjustment to goodwill. Adjustments were required when new information was obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date that, if known, would have affected the measurement of the amounts initially recognized or would have resulted in the recognition of additional assets or liabilities. The amendments in ASU 2015-16 eliminate the requirement to retrospectively account for those adjustments. The amendment is effective for annual periods, including periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 with early adoption permitted. We adopted this pronouncement prospectively in the first quarter of 2016, and it did not have an impact on our financial statements.

On April 15, 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-05, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal- Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement,” which clarifies the accounting for fees paid by a customer in a cloud computing arrangement by providing guidance as to whether an arrangement includes the sale or license of software. The amendment requires a customer to determine whether a cloud computing arrangement contains a software license. If the arrangement contains a software license, the customer would account for the fees related to the software license element in a manner consistent with how the acquisition of other software licenses is accounted for under Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 350-40; if the arrangement does not contain a software license, the customer would account for the arrangement as a service contract. The guidance will not change GAAP for a customer’s accounting for service contracts. The amendment is effective for annual periods, including periods within those annual periods beginning after December 31, 2015 with early adoption permitted. We elected to adopt the amendments prospectively to all arrangements entered into or materially modified after the effective date. We adopted this pronouncement in the first quarter of 2016, and it did not have an impact on our financial statements.

On February 18, 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis,” which requires an entity to evaluate whether it should consolidate certain legal entities. All legal entities are subject to reevaluation under the revised consolidation model. The amendment modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are VIEs. The amendment eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership. The amendment affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships. The amendment also provides a scope exception from consolidation guidance for reporting entities that comply with the requirements for registered money market funds. We adopted this pronouncement in the first quarter of 2016, and it did not have an impact on our financial statements.

On June 19, 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718),” which affects any entity that grants its employees share-based payments in which the terms of the award stipulate that a performance target that affects vesting could be achieved after the requisite service period. The amendments require that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant-date fair value of the award. Compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the period(s) for which the requisite service has already been rendered. If the performance target becomes probable of being achieved before the end of the requisite service period, the remaining unrecognized compensation cost should be recognized prospectively over the remaining requisite service period. We adopted this pronouncement in the first quarter of 2016, and it did not have an impact on our financial statements.

Not yet adopted

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606):

We are required to adopt ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)" and its updates and amendments in the first quarter of 2018. We have developed a project plan for adoption focused first on the largest volume of contracts, our standard service provider partner agreement, in an effort to determine the impact of adoption on our revenue recognition policies, processes and systems. We expect to complete our evaluation of this standard service provider partner agreement in the first quarter of 2017. The next stages of our adoption plan will focus on assessing the impact of adopting this standard on our non-standard service provider partner agreements and sales commissions. The new standard requires significantly more disclosures and we anticipate putting processes in place to collect the data required for these additional disclosures. A summary of these standards and requirements are as follows:

On May 9, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients," and on April 14, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing”. ASU 2016-12 and 2016-10 both amend the guidance in ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)," which is not yet effective. ASU 2016-12 clarifies guidance on assessing collectibility, presentation of sales taxes, noncash consideration, and completed contracts and contract modification within Topic 606. ASU 2016-10 clarifies guidance related to identifying performance obligations and licensing implementation guidance. These updates are effective with the same transition requirements as ASU 2014-09, as amended.

On March 17, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal Versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross Versus Net)” which amends the guidance in ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)," which is not yet effective. The update clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. The update is effective with the same transition requirements as ASU 2014-09, as amended.

On August 12, 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date," which defers the effective date for all entities for one year of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” issued on May 28, 2014. ASU 2014-09 affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards. The guidance supersedes the revenue recognition guidance in Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition,” and most industry-specific guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. The guidance also supersedes some cost guidance included in Subtopic 605-35, “Revenue Recognition - Contract-Type and Production-Type Contracts." ASU 2014-09, as amended, is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 31, 2017. An entity is required to apply the amendments using one of the following two methods: (1) retrospectively to each prior period presented with three possible expedients: (a) for completed contracts that begin and end in the same reporting period no restatement is required; (b) for completed contract with variable consideration an entity may use the transaction price at completion rather than restating estimated variable consideration amounts in comparable reporting periods; and (c) for comparable reporting periods before date of initial application reduced disclosure requirements related to transaction price; (2) retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the amendment recognized at the date of initial application with additional disclosures for the differences of the prior guidance to the reporting periods compared to the new guidance and an explanation of the reasons for significant changes.

Other accounting standards:

On January 26, 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) - Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment," which removes step two of the goodwill impairment test, which requires a hypothetical purchase price allocation. A goodwill impairment amount will now be the amount by which a reporting unit's carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. The amendment is effective for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted for goodwill impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017. Our goodwill impairment test is performed annually as of October 1^st, therefore, we are required to adopt ASU 2017-04 no later than our fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.

On January 5, 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, "Business Combinations (Topic 805) - Clarifying the Definition of a Business," which provides guidance to assist entities in evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. To be considered a business, an acquisition would have to include an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs. The amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We are required to adopt ASU 2017-01 no later than the first quarter of 2018.

On March 30, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We are required to adopt ASU 2016-09 in the first quarter of 2017.

We anticipate that adoption of this standard will have the following impact on our financial statements:

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Tax windfall benefits or deficiencies from stock-based awards will be recorded in income tax expense in the period incurred, whereas current guidance required the tax windfall benefits to be recorded in accumulated paid-in-capital. This change will be applied prospectively. The amounts recorded in accumulated paid-in-capital for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 related to these tax windfall benefits were $5.1 million, $0.9 million and $1.1 million.

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Tax windfall benefits from stock-based awards after adoption will be reported in cash flows from operating activities in the statement of cash flows, which will result in a reclassification for comparability to the prior year tax windfall benefits from cash flows from financing activities. After adoption on January 1, 2017, the tax windfall benefits from stock-based awards reclassification will increase cash flows from operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 by $5.1 million and $0.9 million with corresponding decreases in cash flows from financing activities.


•	Actual forfeitures will be used in the calculation of stock-based compensation expense instead of estimated forfeitures. We do not anticipate that the impact of this change will be material. The impact will be recorded in retained earnings as of January 1, 2017 using the modified retrospective method.


•	Cash flows from tax windfall benefits from stock-based awards will no longer factor into the calculation of the number of shares for diluted earnings per share. This change will be applied prospectively and is not expected to have a material impact on diluted earnings per share.

On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” which requires lessees to recognize operating and financing lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets on the balance sheet. The update also requires improved disclosures to help users of financial statements better understand the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We are required to adopt ASU 2016-02 no later than the first quarter of 2019, and we are currently assessing the impact of this pronouncement on our financial statements. We have begun to evaluate our existing leases which all have been classified as operating leases under Topic 840. We anticipate using some of the available practical expedients upon adoption. We have not yet determined the amount of operating and financing lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets we will record on our balance sheet, however, we anticipate that assets and liabilities will increase materially when our leases are recorded under the new standard.

On July 22, 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory,” which requires entities to measure most inventory "at the lower of cost and net realizable value," thereby simplifying the current guidance under which an entity must measure inventory at the lower of cost or market (market in this context is defined as one of three different measures). The guidance does not apply to inventories that are measured by using either the last-in, first-out method or the retail inventory method. Under current guidance, an entity subsequently measures inventory at the lower of cost or market, with market defined as replacement cost provided that it is not above the ceiling (net realizable value) or below the floor (net realizable value less an approximately normal profit margin) which is unnecessarily complex. The amendment does not change other guidance on measuring inventory. The amendment is effective for annual periods, including periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 with early adoption permitted. We are required to adopt this pronouncement prospectively in the first quarter of 2017, and we do not anticipate that adoption of this pronouncement will have a material effect on our financial statements.