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Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
NOTE 1:
NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Company.  MGP Ingredients, Inc. ("Registrant" or "Company") is a Kansas corporation headquartered in Atchison, Kansas.  It was incorporated in 2011 and is a holding company with no operations of its own.  Its principal directly owned operating subsidiaries are MGPI Processing, Inc. ("Processing") and MGPI of Indiana, LLC ("MGPI-I").  Processing was incorporated in Kansas in 1957 and is the successor to a business founded in 1941 by Cloud L. Cray, Sr.  Prior to the Reorganization (discussed below), Processing was named MGP Ingredients, Inc.  MGPI-I (previously named Firebird Acquisitions, Inc.) acquired substantially all the beverage alcohol distillery assets of Lawrenceburg Distillers Indiana, LLC ("LDI") at its Lawrenceburg and Greendale, Indiana facility on December 27, 2011.

On January 3, 2012, MGP Ingredients, Inc. was reorganized into a holding company structure (the "Reorganization"). In connection with the Reorganization and to further the holding company structure, Processing distributed three of its formerly directly owned subsidiaries, MGPI-I, D.M. Ingredients, GmbH ("DMI"), and Midwest Grain Pipeline, Inc., to the Company.  Processing’s other subsidiary, Illinois Corn Processing, LLC ("ICP"), remained a directly owned subsidiary of Processing and is now 30 percent owned. During the second quarter of fiscal 2010, through a series of transactions, the Company formed a joint venture by contributing its former Pekin, Illinois facility to a newly formed company, ICP, and then selling a 50 percent interest in ICP.  In 2012, the Company sold an additional 20 percent interest in ICP.  The Company purchases food grade alcohol products manufactured by ICP.  
    
Throughout the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, when "the Company" is used in reference to activities prior to the Reorganization, the reference is to the combined business, Processing (formerly MGP Ingredients, Inc.) and its consolidated subsidiaries, and when "the Company" is used in reference to activities occurring after the Reorganization, reference is to the combined business of MGP Ingredients, Inc. (formerly MGPI Holdings, Inc.) and its consolidated subsidiaries, except to the extent the context indicates otherwise.
 
MGP is a leading producer and supplier of premium distilled spirits and specialty wheat proteins and starches. Distilled spirits include premium bourbon and rye whiskeys, and grain neutral spirits, including vodka and gin. The Company’s proteins and starches provide a host of functional, nutritional and sensory benefits for a wide range of food products to serve the packaged goods industry. MGP is also a top producer of high quality industrial alcohol for use in both food and non-food applications. The Company's distillery products are derived from corn and other grains (including rye, barley, wheat, barley malt, and milo), and its ingredient products are derived from wheat flour.  The majority of the Company's sales are made directly or through distributors to manufacturers and processors of finished packaged goods or to bakeries. 

The Company has two reportable segments: distillery products and ingredient solutions. The distillery products segment consists primarily of food grade alcohol, and to a much lesser extent, fuel grade alcohol, distillers feed and corn oil. Distillers feed, fuel grade alcohol, and corn oil are co-products of the Company's distillery operations.  The ingredient solutions segment products primarily consist of specialty starches, specialty proteins, commodity starches and commodity vital wheat gluten (or commodity wheat proteins).  The Company procures textured wheat proteins through a toll manufacturing arrangement at a facility in the United States. During December 2011, through its wholly owned subsidiary, MGPI-I, the Company acquired the beverage alcohol distillery assets of LDI.

The Company sells its products on normal credit terms to customers in a variety of industries located primarily throughout the United States and Japan.  The Company operates facilities in Atchison, Kansas, and in Lawrenceburg and Greendale, Indiana.
 
Use of Estimates.  The financial reporting policies of the Company conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  The application of certain of these policies places significant demands on management’s judgment, with financial reporting results relying on estimation about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain.  For all of these policies, management cautions that future events rarely develop as forecast, and estimates routinely require adjustment and may require material adjustment.

Principles of Consolidation.  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Cash and Cash Equivalents.  Short-term liquid investments with an initial maturity of 90 days or less are considered cash equivalents.  Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value due to the relatively short maturity of these instruments.

Receivables.  Receivables are stated at the amounts billed to customers.  The Company provides an allowance for estimated doubtful accounts.  This allowance is based upon a review of outstanding receivables, historical collection information and an evaluation of existing economic conditions impacting the Company’s customers.  Accounts receivable are ordinarily due 30 days after the issuance of the invoice.  Receivables are considered delinquent after 30 days past the due date.  These delinquent receivables are monitored and are charged to the allowance for doubtful accounts based upon an evaluation of individual circumstances of the customer.  Account balances are written off after collection efforts have been made and potential recovery is considered remote.

Inventory.  Inventory includes finished goods, raw materials in the form of agricultural commodities used in the production process and certain maintenance and repair items.  Bourbon and whiskeys are normally aged in barrels for several years, following industry practice; all barreled bourbon and whiskey is classified as a current asset. The Company includes warehousing, insurance, and other carrying charges applicable to barreled whiskey in inventory costs.

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market on the first-in, first-out, or FIFO, method.  Inventory valuations are impacted by constantly changing prices paid for key materials, primarily corn.

Derivative Instruments. The Company recognizes all derivatives as either assets or liabilities at their fair values.  Accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative depends on whether the derivative has been designated as a cash flow hedge and the effectiveness of the hedging relationship.  Derivatives qualify for treatment as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes when there is a high correlation between the change in fair value of the hedging instrument ("derivative") and the related change in value of the underlying commitment ("hedged item").  For derivatives that qualify as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes, except for ineffectiveness, the change in fair value has no net impact on earnings, to the extent the derivative is considered effective, until the hedged item or transaction affects earnings.  For derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes, or for the ineffective portion of a hedging instrument, the change in fair value affects current period net earnings.  
 
Properties, Depreciation and Amortization.  Property and equipment are typically stated at cost.  Additions, including those that increase the life or utility of an asset, are capitalized and all properties are depreciated over their estimated remaining useful lives.  Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight line method over the following estimated useful lives:
Buildings and improvements
20 – 40 years
Transportation equipment
5 – 6 years
Machinery and equipment
10 – 12 years

 
Maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. The cost of property and equipment sold, retired or otherwise disposed of, as well as related accumulated depreciation and amortization, is eliminated from the property accounts with related gains and losses reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income.  The Company capitalizes interest costs associated with significant construction projects.  Total interest incurred for 2016, 2015, and 2014 is noted below:
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Interest costs charged to expense
 
$
1,294

 
$
534

 
$
816

Plus: Interest cost capitalized
 
198

 
297

 
107

Total
 
$
1,492


$
831

 
$
923



Equity Method Investments.  The Company accounts for its investment in non-consolidated subsidiaries under the equity method of accounting when the Company has significant influence, but does not have more than 50 percent voting control, and is not considered the primary beneficiary.  Under the equity method of accounting, the Company reflects its investment in non-consolidated subsidiaries within the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as Equity method investments; the Company’s share of the earnings or losses of the non-consolidated subsidiaries are reflected as Equity method investment earnings (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company reviews its investments in non-consolidated subsidiaries for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investments may not be fully recoverable. Evidence of a loss in value that is other than temporary include, but are not limited to, the absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment, the inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity which would justify the carrying amount of the investment, or, where applicable, estimated sales proceeds which are insufficient to recover the carrying amount of the investment. If the fair value of the investment is determined to be less than the carrying value and the decline in value is considered to be other than temporary, an appropriate write down is recorded based on the excess of the carrying value over the best estimate of fair value of the investment.

Earnings (loss) per Share ("EPS).  Basic and diluted EPS is computed using the two class method, which is an earnings allocation formula that determines net income per share for each class of Common Stock and participating security according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings.  Per share amounts are computed by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average shares outstanding during each year or period.

Deferred Credits. Funding received by the Company in the form of grants and/or reimbursements related to specific assets are allocated to the associated assets and are included as deferred credits in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As the related assets are depreciated, deferred credits are reduced with a credit to Cost of sales or Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Income Taxes. The Company accounts for income taxes using an asset and liability method which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. A valuation allowance is recognized if it is more likely than not that at least some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.     
Evaluating the need for, and amount of, a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets often requires significant judgment and extensive analysis of all available evidence on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis. Such judgments require the Company to interpret existing tax law and other published guidance as applied to its circumstances. As part of this assessment, the Company considers both positive and negative evidence about its profitability and tax situation. A valuation allowance is provided if, based on available evidence, it is more likely than not that all or some portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company generally considers the following and other positive and negative evidence to determine the likelihood of realization of the deferred tax assets:
Future realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on projected taxable income of the appropriate character from the Company's continuing operations.
Future reversals of existing temporary differences are heavily weighted sources of objectively verifiable positive evidence.
The long carryback and carryforward periods permitted under the tax law are objectively verified positive evidence.
Tax planning strategies can be, depending on their nature, heavily weighted sources of objectively verifiable positive evidence when the strategies are available and can be reasonably executed. Tax planning strategies are actions that are prudent and feasible, considering current operations and strategic plans, which the Company ordinarily might not take, but would take to prevent a tax benefit from expiring unused. Tax planning strategies, if available, may accelerate the recovery of a deferred tax asset so the tax benefit of the deferred tax asset can be carried back.
Projections of future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences are a source of positive evidence when the projections are combined with a history of recent profits and current financial trends and can be reasonably estimated.

Accounting for uncertainty in income tax positions requires management judgment and the use of estimates in determining whether the impact of a tax position is "more likely than not" of being sustained. The Company considers many factors when evaluating and estimating its tax positions, which may require periodic adjustment and which may not accurately anticipate actual outcomes. It is reasonably possible that amounts reserved for potential exposure could change significantly as a result of the conclusion of tax examinations and, accordingly, materially affect the Company’s reported net income after tax.

Revenue Recognition.  Except as discussed below, revenue from the sale of the Company’s products is recognized as products are delivered to customers according to shipping terms and when title and risk of loss have transferred.  Income from various government incentive grant programs is recognized as it is earned.
 
The Company’s Distillery segment routinely produces unaged distillate, and this product is frequently barreled and warehoused at a Company location for an extended period of time in accordance with directions received from the Company’s customers.  This product must meet customer acceptance specifications, the risks of ownership and title for these goods must be passed, and requirements for bill and hold revenue recognition must be met prior to the Company recognizing revenue for this product.  Separate warehousing agreements are maintained for customers who store their product with the Company and warehouse services revenue is recognized as the services are provided.
 
Sales include customer paid freight costs billed to customers of $13,974, $14,498, and $16,209 for 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.
 
Excise Taxes.  Certain sales of the Company are subject to excise taxes, which the Company collects from customers and remits to governmental authorities.  The Company records the collection of excise taxes on distilled products sold to these customers as accrued expenses.  No revenue or expense is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income related to excise taxes paid by customers directly to governmental authorities.

Recognition of Insurance Recoveries. Estimated loss contingencies are recognized as charges to income when they are probable and reasonably estimable.  Insurance recoveries are not recognized until all contingencies related to the insurance claim have been resolved and settlement has been reached with the insurer.  Insurance recoveries, to the extent of costs and lost profits, are reported as a reduction to Cost of sales on the Consolidated Statements of Income.  Insurance recoveries, in excess of costs and losses are included in Insurance recoveries on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Research and Development.  During 2016, 2015, and 2014, the Company incurred $916, and $748, $1,622 respectively, on research and development activities. These activities were expensed and are included in Selling, general and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Long-Lived Assets and Loss on Impairment of Assets.  Management reviews long-lived assets whenever events or circumstances indicate that usage may be limited and carrying values may not be fully recoverable.  Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are determined to be impaired, the impairment is measured by the amount by which the asset carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset.  Assets to be disposed are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.  Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and third party independent appraisals, as considered necessary.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Goodwill is an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are assets that are not amortized as there is no foreseeable limit to cash flows generated from them. Management reviews goodwill and other intangible assets whenever events or circumstances indicate that usage may be limited and carrying values may not be fully recoverable.  Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are determined to be impaired, the impairment is measured by the amount by which the asset carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset.  Assets to be disposed are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.  Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and third party independent appraisals, as considered necessary.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments.  The Company determines the fair values of its financial instruments based on a fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based upon the observability of inputs. Fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.
 
The Company’s short term financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable.  The carrying value of the short term financial instruments approximates the fair value due to their short term nature. These financial instruments have no stated maturities or the financial instruments have short term maturities that approximate market.
 
The fair value of the Company’s debt is estimated based on current market interest rates for debt with similar maturities and credit quality. The fair value of the Company’s debt was $37,412 and $34,603 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The financial statement carrying value (including unamortized loan fees) was $36,001 and $33,460 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  These fair values are considered Level 2 under the fair value hierarchy.
  
Pension Benefits. In April 2015, the Company received approval from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to terminate its pension plans for employees covered under collective bargaining agreements. Benefit obligations at December 31, 2015 were zero, as $741 in termination liabilities was distributed to plan participants or transferred to an insurer during the quarter ended June 30, 2015, and was followed by the closing of the pension trust account in 2015. Prior to termination, the Company accounted for its pension benefit plan's funded status as a liability included in Other non current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company measured the funded status of its pension benefit plans using actuarial techniques that reflected management’s assumptions for discount rate, expected long-term investment returns on plan assets, salary increases, expected retirement, mortality, and employee turnover. Assumptions regarding employee and retiree life expectancy were based upon the RP 2000 Combined Mortality Table ("2000 tables"). Although the Society of Actuaries released new mortality tables on October 27, 2014, the Internal Revenue Service continued to use the 2000 tables through 2015. Because the pension benefit plan was being terminated, the actuarial valuation of the pension benefit plan assumed all remaining assets of the plan would be distributed to plan participants or transferred to an insurer during 2015, so the new mortality tables were not adopted. The funding by the Company to terminate the plans was $741 and was recognized when the pension plan settlement was fully executed, during the quarter ended June 30, 2015.

Post-Employment Benefits. The Company accounts for its post-employment benefit plan's funded status as a liability included in Accrued Retirement Health and Life Insurance Benefits on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company measures the obligation for other post-employment benefits using actuarial techniques that reflect management’s assumptions for discount rate, expected retirement, mortality, employee turnover, health care costs for retirees and future increases in health care costs, which are based upon actual claims experience and other environmental and market factors impacting the costs of health care in the short and long-term.  Assumptions regarding employee and retiree life expectancy are based upon the Society of Actuaries RP-2014 Mortality Tables using Scale MP-2015.  The discount rate is determined based on the rates of return on high quality fixed income investments using the Citigroup Pension Liability Index as of the measurement date (long-term rates of return are not considered because the plan has no assets).

Stock Options and Restricted Stock Awards.  The Company has share-based employee compensation plans primarily in the form of restricted common stock ("restricted stock"), restricted stock units ("RSUs") and stock options, which are described more fully in Note 9. The Company recognizes the cost of share-based payments over the vesting period based on the grant date fair value of the award.  The grant date fair value for stock options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model adjusted for the unique characteristics of the awards.

Immaterial Error Correction. During the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company identified errors in in the recording of its long term incentive compensation. The errors were due to an understatement of expense associated with share-based compensation awards for which the related expense was recorded prior to January 1, 2014. An immaterial error correction was made to the opening balances of the Company's Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity as of December 31, 2013, whereby retained earnings was reduced by $1,027 with a corresponding increase to Additional paid-in capital of $1,027. This immaterial correction had no impact on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income, the computations of Basic and diluted EPS, the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, or the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements. In December 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-19, Technical Corrections and Improvements, which amends a number of Topics in the FASB ASC. The ASU is part of an ongoing FASB project to facilitate Codification updates for non-substantive technical corrections, clarifications, and improvements that are not expected to have a significant effect on accounting practice or create a significant administrative cost to most entities. The ASU will apply to all reporting entities within the scope of the affected accounting guidance. Most amendments are effective upon issuance (December 2016). Certain amendments that require transition guidance are effective for: Public business entities, for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 (for cloud computing arrangements); All other entities, for annual periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (for cloud computing arrangements); and All entities, for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 (for certain others, including the change to fair value measurement disclosures). Early adoption is permitted for the amendments that require transition guidance. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2016-19 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures and is not planning to early adopt the new standard.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash, which requires companies to include cash and cash equivalents that have restrictions on withdrawal or use in total cash and cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for public business entities for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, adjustments should be reflected at the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2016-18 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory, which requires entities to recognize at the transaction date the income tax consequences of intercompany asset transfers other than inventory. This ASU is effective for public business entities for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Entities may early adopt the ASU, but only at the beginning of an annual period for which no financial statements (interim or annual) have already been issued or made available for issuance. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2016-16 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
 
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which addresses eight classification issues related to the statement of cash flows: Debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs; Settlement of zero coupon bonds; Contingent consideration payments made after a business combination; Proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; Proceeds from the settlement of corporate owned life insurance policies, including bank owned life insurance policies; Distributions received from equity method investees; Beneficial interests in securitization transactions; and Separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle.
This ASU is effective for public business entities for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity early adopts the ASU in an interim period, adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. An entity that elects early adoption must adopt all of the amendments in the same period. Entities should apply this ASU using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. If it is impracticable for an entity to apply the ASU retrospectively for some of the issues, it may apply the amendments for those issues prospectively as of the earliest date practicable. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2016-15 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which significantly changes the way entities recognize impairment of many financial assets by requiring immediate recognition of estimated credit losses expected to occur over their remaining life. This ASU is effective for public business entities that are SEC filers for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2016-13 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which aims to make leasing activities more transparent and comparable and requires substantially all leases be recognized by lessees on their balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability, including leases currently accounted for as operating leases. This ASU is effective for all interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. At December 31, 2016, the Company had various machinery and equipment operating leases, as well as operating leases for 207 rail cars and one office space.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which will significantly change the income statement impact of equity investments, and the recognition of changes in fair value of financial liabilities when the fair value option is elected. The ASU is effective for public business entities for interim and annual periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2016-01 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (Topic 330), which simplifies its current requirement that an entity measure inventory at lower of cost or market, when market could be replacement cost, net realizable value, or net realizable value less an approximately normal profit margin. Inventory within the scope of ASU 2015-11 should be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. ASU 2015-11 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2015-11 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which will replace numerous requirements in U.S. GAAP, including industry specific requirements, and provide companies with a single revenue recognition model for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers. The core principle of the new standard is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The two permitted transition methods under the new standard are the full retrospective method, in which case the standard would be applied to each prior reporting period presented and the cumulative effect of applying the standard would be recognized at the earliest period shown, or the modified retrospective method, in which case the cumulative effect of applying the standard would be recognized at the date of initial application. In July 2015, the FASB approved the deferral of the new standard's effective date by one year. The new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The FASB will permit companies to adopt the new standard early, but not before the original effective date of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, but the Company is not planning to early adopt the new standard.
 
In 2016, the Company established an implementation team consisting of internal and external representatives. The implementation team is in the process of assessing the impact the new standard will have on the consolidated financial statements and assessing the impact on individual contracts in the Company's revenue streams. In addition, the implementation team is in the process of identifying, and will then implement, appropriate changes to business processes, systems and controls to support recognition and disclosure under the new standard. The implementation team will report findings and progress of the project to management and the Audit Committee on a frequent basis through the effective date. The Company will adopt the requirements of the new standard in the first quarter of 2018 and anticipates using the modified retrospective transition method. The Company has not yet determined the quantitative impact on its financial statements.