RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS - Note 9

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS - Note 9

9. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In August 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-15 (ASU 2016-15), Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Clarification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The objective of ASU 2016-15 is to eliminate the diversity in practice related to the classification of certain receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows, by adding or clarifying guidance on eight specific cash flow issues. For public business entities, ASU 2016-15 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The amendments in this update should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented, unless deemed impracticable, in which case, prospective application is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard will have on our financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 (ASU 2016-13), Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 amends the impairment model to utilize an expected loss methodology in place of the currently used incurred loss methodology, which will result in the more timely recognition of losses. ASU 2016-13 is effective for public entities with fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The new guidance shall be applied on a modified-retrospective approach. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard will have on our financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09 (ASU 2016-09), Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions including a) income tax consequences; b) classification of awards as either equity or liabilities; and c) classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for public entities in the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Various elements of the amendments will be applied using either a modified retrospective transition method, retrospectively, or prospectively. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard will have on our financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02 (ASU 2016-02), Leases (Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability in the balance sheet for all leases, including operating leases, with terms of more than twelve months. Recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows from a lease by a lessee have not significantly changed from previous guidance. The principal difference from previous guidance is that the lease assets and lease liabilities arising from operating leases should be recognized in the balance sheet. The amendments also require qualitative disclosures along with specific quantitative disclosures. The new guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. The amendments must be applied on a modified retrospective basis. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard will have on our financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-17 (ASU 2015-17), Income Taxes: Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. ASU 2015-17 eliminates the current requirement to present deferred tax liabilities and assets as current and non-current on the balance sheet and requires that all deferred tax liabilities and asset, and any related valuation allowance, be classified as non-current on the balance sheet. ASU 2015-17 is effective for public entities in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and for the interim periods within those fiscal years. The new guidance can be applied retrospectively or prospectively and early adoption is permitted. We do not expect the implementation of this standard to have a material effect on our financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-15 (ASU 2014-15), Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, which provides guidance on determining when and how to disclose going concern uncertainties in the financial statements. The new standard requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity's ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued. An entity must provide certain disclosures if conditions or events raise substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern. ASU 2014-15 will be effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and interim periods thereafter, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect the implementation of this standard to have a material effect on our financial statements.

In May 2014, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (ASU 2014-09), Revenue from Contracts with Customers, an updated standard on revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 provides enhancements to the quality and consistency of how revenue is reported while also improving comparability in the financial statements of companies reporting using International Financial Reporting Standards and generally accepted accounting principles of the United States. Subsequent accounting standards updates have been issued which amend and/or clarify the application of ASU 2014-09. The core principle of the new standard is for companies to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard also will result in enhanced disclosures about revenue, provide guidance for transactions that were not previously addressed comprehensively, and improve guidance for multiple-element arrangements. ASU 2014-09 will be effective in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 and may be applied on a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach. We have not yet selected a transition method and we are currently evaluating the effect that the updated standard will have on our financial statements.