RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS (Note)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]

Recent Accounting Developments [Note Text Block]

RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS

Share-Based Payment

In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2014-12, "Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That Performance Target Could Be Achieved After the Requisite Service Period." This guidance provides that entities should treat performance targets that can be met after the requisite service period of a share-based payment award as performance conditions that affect vesting. As such, an entity should not record compensation expense related to an award for which transfer to the employee is contingent on the entity's satisfaction of a performance target until it becomes probable that the performance target will be met. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those years. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this guidance.

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." The guidance replaces most existing revenue recognition guidance and provides that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years, and permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this guidance.

Discontinued Operations

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, "Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity," which changes the criteria for determining which disposals can be presented as discontinued operations and modifies the related disclosure requirements. This guidance should be applied prospectively to new disposals and new classifications of disposal groups as held for sale after the effective date which is fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company chose to early adopt the provisions of this guidance in the third quarter 2014. See Note 8 for further discussion and disclosures.

Hedge Accounting

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-10, "Derivatives and Hedging," which amends ASC 815, "Derivatives and Hedging," to allow entities to use the Fed Funds Swap Rate, in addition to U.S. Treasury rates and LIBOR, as a benchmark interest rate in accounting for fair value and cash flow hedges in the United States. The ASU also eliminates the provision that prohibits the use of different benchmark rates for similar hedges except in rare and justifiable circumstances. The ASU is effective prospectively for qualifying new hedging relationships entered into on or after July 17, 2013 and for hedging relationships redesignated on or after that date. The adoption of the provisions of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes

In July 2013, the FASB also issued ASU 2013-11, "Income Taxes," which provides guidance on financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. This guidance should be applied to all unrealized tax benefits that exist as of the effective date which is fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013, and interim periods within those years. The adoption of the provisions of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.