Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Business Combinations Policy

Business Combination

The Company applies the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations to its acquisition of Thomson Video Networks (“TVN”), which closed on February 29, 2016. (See Note 3, “Business Acquisition” for additional information on TVN acquisition). Under this method of accounting, all assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their respective fair values at the date of the completion of the transaction. Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires management’s judgment and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions, including assumptions with respect to future cash inflows and outflows, discount rates, intangibles and other asset lives, among other items. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received in a sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price). Market participants are assumed to be buyers and sellers in the principal (most advantageous) market for the asset or liability. Additionally, fair value measurements for an asset assume the highest and best use of that asset by market participants. As a result, the Company may have been required to value the acquired assets at fair value measurements that do not reflect its intended use of those assets. Use of different estimates and judgments could yield different results. Any excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired is recognized as goodwill.

The accounting for the TVN acquisition is based on currently available information and is subject to continued evaluation of certain liabilities and tax estimates. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and estimates it has made are reasonable and appropriate, they are based in part on historical experience and information that may be obtained from the management of the acquired company and are inherently uncertain. Unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that may affect the accuracy or validity of such assumptions, estimates, or actual results. As a result, during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Significant Accounting Policies

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 to its audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2015 Form 10-K. There have been no significant changes to these policies during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

New standards to be implemented

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new authoritative guidance for revenue recognition, requiring an entity to recognize the amount of revenue that reflects the consideration to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The updated standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The original effective date for this new standard would have required the Company to adopt it beginning in its first quarter of fiscal 2017. In August 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standard update for the deferral of the effective date by one year to December 15, 2017 for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after that date and permits early adoption, but not before the original effective date of December 15, 2016. Accordingly, the Company may adopt the standard in either its first quarter of fiscal 2017 or fiscal 2018. The new revenue standard may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the timing of its adoption and the impact of this new revenue standard on its consolidated financial statements. In addition, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, ASU 2016-10, and ASU 2016-12 in March 2016, April 2016, and May 2016, respectively, to help provide interpretive clarifications on the new guidance in ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Company is in the process of assessing the impact these interpretive clarifications will have upon adoption, including determining the adoption method.

In July 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that requires inventory to 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. This accounting standard update will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard update on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard update which requires equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income and simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment. The accounting standard update also updates certain presentation and disclosure requirements. This accounting standard update will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard update on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB amended the existing accounting standard for lease accounting. Under this guidance, lessees and lessors should apply a “right-of-use” model in accounting for all leases (including subleases) and eliminate the concept of operating leases and off-balance sheet leases. This new accounting standard requires a modified retrospective transition approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial application, with an option to use certain transition relief. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the methods and impact of adopting this new accounting standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard update to clarify the requirements for assessing whether contingent call (put) options that can accelerate the payment of principal on debt instruments are clearly and closely related to their debt hosts. An entity performing the assessment under the amendments is required to assess the embedded call (put) options solely in accordance with the four-step decision sequence. The standard will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this accounting standard update is not expected to have any impact on the financial statements of the Company.

In March 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard update for the accounting for 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. This accounting standard update will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the methods and impact of adopting the new accounting standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments. For trade receivables and other instruments, the Company will be required to use a new forward-looking “expected loss” model. Additionally, credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities should be recorded through an allowance for credit losses limited to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost. The new guidance will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new accounting guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. This accounting standard update will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the methods and impact of adopting the new accounting standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard update which removes the prohibition in ASC 740 against the immediate recognition of the current and deferred income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. This accounting standard update is intended to reduce the complexity of U.S. GAAP and diversity in practice related to the tax consequences of certain types of intra-entity asset transfers, particularly those involving intellectual property. This accounting standard update will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the new accounting standard on its consolidated financial statements.

Standards Implemented

In April 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that requires debt issuance costs to be presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability, consistent with the presentation of debt discounts. Prior to this accounting update, debt issuance costs were required to be presented as deferred charge assets, separate from the related debt liability. This accounting standard update does not change the recognition and measurement requirements for debt issuance costs. The Company early-adopted this accounting standard update as of the end of its fiscal 2015 in connection with the issuance of convertible senior notes in December 2015 (see Note 11, “Convertible Notes, Other Debts and Capital Leases”), resulting in the classification of $3.2 million of unamortized debt issuance costs as a deduction from long-term liability on its Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2015. Other than this transaction, the adoption of this accounting standard update did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standard update on whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. The guidance requires the accounting for a cloud computing arrangement that includes a software license element to be consistent with the accounting for acquisition of other software licenses. Cloud computing arrangement without software licenses are to be accounted for as a service contract. The Company adopted this accounting standard update beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. The adoption of this standard update did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that all deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with any related valuation allowance, be classified as non-current on the balance sheet. The Company prospectively early-adopted this accounting standard update as of the end of its fiscal 2015, resulting in $15.9 million of net deferred tax assets, along with its related valuation allowance, being classified as non-current on its Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2015. Other than this reclassification, the adoption of this accounting standard update did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In September 2015, the FASB issued new guidance related to business combinations. The new guidance requires that any adjustments to provisional amounts in a business combination be recorded in the period such adjustments are determined, rather than retrospectively adjusting previously reported amounts. The Company adopted the amendments beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Impairment of Investments

Impairment of Short-term Investments

The Company monitors its investment portfolio for impairment on a periodic basis. In the event that the carrying value of an investment exceeds its fair value and the decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment charge is recorded and a new cost basis for the investment is established. A decline of fair value below amortized costs of debt securities is considered other-than-temporary if the Company has the intent to sell the security or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of the entire amortized cost basis. At the present time, the Company does not intend to sell its investments that have unrealized losses in accumulated other comprehensive loss. In addition, the Company does not believe that it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell its investments that have unrealized losses in accumulated other comprehensive loss before the Company recovers the principal amounts invested. The Company believes that the unrealized losses are temporary and do not require an other-than-temporary impairment, based on its evaluation of available evidence as of September 30, 2016.

As of September 30, 2016, there were no individual available-for-sale securities in a material unrealized loss position and the amount of unrealized losses on the total investment balance was insignificant.

Investments in Other Equity Securities

Each reporting period, the Company reviews all of its unconsolidated VIE investments to determine whether there are any reconsideration events that may result in the Company being a primary beneficiary of any unconsolidated VIE which would then require the Company to consolidate the VIE. The Company also reviews all of its cost-method investments in each reporting period to determine whether a significant event of change in circumstances has occurred that may have an adverse effect on the fair value of each investment.

Derivatives and Hedging Activities

Offsetting of Derivative Assets and Liabilities

The Company recognizes all derivative instruments on a gross basis in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. However, the arrangements with its counterparties allows for net settlement, which are designed to reduce credit risk by permitting net settlement with the same counterparty.

The Company uses forward contracts to manage exposures to foreign currency exchange rates. The Company’s primary objective in holding derivative instruments is to reduce the volatility of earnings and cash flows associated with fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and the Company does not use derivative instruments for trading purposes. The use of derivative instruments expose the Company to credit risk to the extent that the counterparties may be unable to meet their contractual obligations, as such, the potential risk of loss with any one counterparty is closely monitored by the Company.

Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments (Cash Flow Hedges)

Beginning in December 2014, the Company entered into forward currency contracts to hedge forecasted operating expenses and service costs related to employee salaries and benefits denominated in Israeli shekels (“ILS”) for its subsidiaries in Israel. These ILS forward contracts mature generally within 12 months and are designated as cash flow hedges. For derivatives that are designated as hedges of forecasted foreign currency denominated operating expenses and service costs, the Company assesses effectiveness based on changes in spot currency exchange rates. Changes in spot rates on the derivative are recorded as a component of “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” (“AOCI”) in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets until such time as the hedged transaction impacts earnings. The change in fair value of the forward points, which reflects the interest rate differential between the two countries on the derivative, is excluded from the effectiveness assessment. Gains or losses on the derivative representing either hedge ineffectiveness or hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in current earnings.

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments (Balance Sheet Hedges)

Balance sheet hedges consist of foreign currency forward contracts, mature generally within three months, are carried at fair value and they are used to minimize the short-term impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuation on cash and certain trade and inter-company receivables and payables. Changes in the fair value of these foreign currency forward contracts are recognized in “Other income (expense), net” in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and are largely offset by the changes in the fair value of the assets or liabilities being hedged.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The applicable accounting guidance establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires disclosure about the fair value measurements of assets and liabilities. This guidance requires the Company to classify and disclose assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as well as fair value measurements of assets and liabilities measured on a nonrecurring basis in periods subsequent to initial measurement, in a three-tier fair value hierarchy as described below.

The guidance defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability, in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.

Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The guidance describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:


•	Level 1 — Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

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Level 2 — Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. The Company primarily uses broker quotes for valuation of its short-term investments. The forward exchange contracts are classified as Level 2 because they are valued using quoted market prices and other observable data for similar instruments in an active market.


•	Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

The Company uses the market approach to measure fair value for its financial assets and liabilities. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. The fair value of the Company’s convertible notes is influenced by interest rates, the Company’s stock price and stock market volatility. The estimated fair value of the Company’s convertible notes based on a market approach was approximately $161.2 million and $123.1 million as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and represents a Level 2 valuation. The Company’s other debts and capital leases assumed from the TVN acquisition are classified within Level 2 because these borrowings are not actively traded and the majority of them have a variable interest rate structure based upon market rates currently available to the Company for debt with similar terms and maturities. Additionally, the Company considers the carrying amount of its capital lease obligations to approximate their fair value because the weighted average interest rate used to formulate the carrying amounts approximates current market rates. The other debts and capital leases outstanding as of September 30, 2016 were $22.8 million in the aggregate. (See Note 11, “Convertible Notes, Other debts and Capital Leases” for additional information).

The Company’s liabilities for the TVN contingent consideration under the TVN Purchase Agreement were fully paid as of August 31, 2016, of which $3.5 million was paid in the second quarter of 2016 and the remaining $2.5 million was paid in the third quarter of 2016. As of September 30, 2016, there were no amounts of TVN contingent consideration which remained outstanding. The liabilities for the assumed TVN employee equity plans of approximately $2.9 million were fully paid in the second quarter of 2016 and there were no other outstanding amounts under these plans at September 30, 2016.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, there were no nonrecurring fair value measurements of assets and liabilities subsequent to initial recognition.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill

A significant decline in a company’s stock price may suggest that an adverse change in the business climate may have caused the fair value of one or more reporting units to fall below their carrying value. During the second quarter of 2016, the sustained decline in the Company’s stock price led to a triggering event for goodwill impairment assessment. As of July 1, 2016, with a closing stock price of $3.01 on the NASDAQ stock exchange, the Company’s market capitalization was approximately $235 million. As this market capitalization was less than the Company’s net book value, further analysis was performed to determine if an impairment exists. When assessing goodwill for impairment, the Company used multiple valuation methodologies to determine its enterprise value. The valuation methods used included the Company’s market capitalization adjusted for a control premium and the Company’s discounted cash flow analysis, which involves making significant assumptions and estimates, including expectations of the Company’s future financial performance, the Company’s weighted average cost of capital and the Company’s interpretation of currently enacted tax laws. Based on the impairment test performed, management determined that the Company’s goodwill was not impaired as of July 1, 2016. As of September 30, 2016, the Company’s closing stock price was $5.93.

The Company has not recorded any impairment charges related to goodwill for any prior periods.

Restructuring and Related Charges

The Company accounts for facility exit costs in accordance with ASC 420, “Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations”, which requires that a liability for such costs be recognized and measured initially at fair value on the cease-use date based on remaining lease rentals, adjusted for the effects of any prepaid or deferred items recognized, reduced by the estimated sublease rentals that could be reasonably obtained even if it is not the intent to sublease. The fair value of these liabilities is based on a net present value model using a credit-adjusted risk-free rate. The liability will be paid out over the remainder of the leased properties’ terms, which continue through August 2020. Actual sublease terms may differ from the estimates originally made by the Company. Any future changes in the estimates or in the actual sublease income could require future adjustments to the liabilities, which would impact net income in the period the adjustment is recorded.

Share-based Compensation Expense

The expected term of the employee stock options represents the weighted-average period that the stock options are expected to remain outstanding. The computation of expected term was determined based on historical experience of similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms of the stock-based awards, vesting schedules and expectations of future employee behavior. The expected term of the stock purchase rights under the ESPP represents the period of time from the beginning of the offering period to the purchase date. The Company uses its historical volatility for a period equivalent to the expected term of the options to estimate the expected volatility. The risk-free interest rate that the Company uses in the Black-Scholes option valuation model is based on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with remaining terms similar to the expected term. The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends and does not plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future, and, therefore, used an expected dividend yield of zero in the valuation model.

The Company is required to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company uses historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures and records stock-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest. All stock-based payment awards are amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which are generally the vesting periods.

The Company estimates the fair value of employee stock options and stock purchase rights under the ESPP using a Black-Scholes option valuation model. The value of the stock purchase rights under the ESPP consists of: (1) the 15% discount on the purchase of the stock; (2) 85% of the fair value of the call option; and (3) 15% of the fair value of the put option. The call option and put option were valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

Income Tax

As of September 30, 2016, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties, was approximately $15.1 million, of which $2.9 million would affect the Company’s effective tax rate if the benefits are eventually recognized. The remaining gross unrecognized tax benefit does not affect the Company’s effective tax rate as it relates to positions that would be settled with tax attributes such as net operating loss carryforward or tax credits previously subject to a valuation allowance. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax positions in income tax expense. The Company had $0.4 million of gross interest and penalties accrued as of September 30, 2016. The Company will continue to review its tax positions and provide for, or reverse, unrecognized tax benefits as issues arise. As of September 30, 2016, the Company anticipates that the balance of gross unrecognized tax benefits will remain substantially unchanged over the next 12 months.

Segment Information

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise that engage in business activities for which separate financial information is available and evaluated by the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker ( the “CODM”), which for Harmonic is its Chief Executive Officer, in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. Based on our internal reporting structure, the Company consists of two operating segments: Video and Cable Edge, and prior to the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company operated its business in only one reportable segment. The operating segments were determined based on the nature of the products offered. The Video segment sells video processing and production and playout solutions and services worldwide to broadcast and media companies, streaming new media companies, cable operators, and satellite and telecommunications (telco) Pay-TV service providers. The Cable Edge segment sells cable edge solutions and related services to cable operators globally.

The Company does not allocate amortization of intangibles, stock-based compensation, restructuring and related charges, TVN acquisition- and integration-related costs, and certain other non-recurring charges to the operating income for each segment because management does not include this information in the measurement of the performance of the operating segments. A measure of assets by segment is not applicable as segment assets are not included in the discrete financial information provided to the CODM.

Warranties and Indemnification

The Company accrues for estimated warranty costs at the time of product shipment. Management periodically reviews the estimated fair value of its warranty liability and records adjustments based on the terms of warranties provided to customers, historical and anticipated warranty claims experience, and estimates of the timing and cost of warranty claims.

Harmonic is obligated to indemnify its officers and the members of its Board of Directors (the “Board”) pursuant to its bylaws and contractual indemnity agreements. Harmonic also indemnifies some of its suppliers and most of its customers for specified intellectual property matters pursuant to certain contractual arrangements, subject to certain limitations. The scope of these indemnities varies, but, in some instances, includes indemnification for damages and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees).