Note 2 Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

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 and 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 Company bases its estimates on historical experience, currently available information and various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Revenue Recognition

The Company accounts for revenue in accordance with ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which it adopted on January 1, 2018, using the modified-retrospective method. See Recent Accounting Pronouncements in this Note 2 and Note 4 for further discussion of the adoption.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and temporary investments with maturities of three months or less when acquired.

Investments

Investments in non-consolidated affiliates (20-50 percent owned companies and joint ventures) are accounted for using the equity method. Investments through which we are not able to exercise significant influence over the investee and which we do not have readily determinable fair values are generally accounted for under the cost method.

The Company assesses declines in the fair value of investments to determine whether such declines are other-than-temporary. Other-than-temporary impairments of investments are recorded to interest and other expense, net, in the period in which they become impaired.

For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded impairment charges of $1,373 and $1,743, respectively, related to certain cost-method investments. The aggregate carrying amount of all investments accounted for under the cost method totaled $8,483 and $8,263 at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and is included in other assets, net, on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Accounts Receivable and Allowances for Doubtful Accounts

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. In evaluating the collectability of accounts receivable, the Company assesses a number of factors, including specific customers’ ability to meet their financial obligations to us, the length of time receivables are past due and historical collection experience. Based on these assessments, the Company may record a reserve for specific customers, as well as a general reserve and allowance for returns and discounts. If circumstances related to specific customers change, or economic conditions deteriorate such that the Company’s past collection experience is no longer relevant, its estimate of the recoverability of accounts receivable could be further reduced from the levels provided for in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The following presents the changes in the balance of our allowance for doubtful accounts:

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Year Ended	Item	Balance at beginning of year		Additions charged to expense		Other			Balance at end of year
2018	Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	10,258	$	1,824	$	(3,659	)	$	8,423
2017	Allowance for doubtful accounts	12,920		1,051		(3,713		)	10,258
2016	Allowance for doubtful accounts	14,139		1,552		(2,771		)	12,920

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost being determined using the first-in, first-out method.

Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill

The Company reviews long-lived assets, including intangible assets subject to amortization, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability is assessed as the carrying value of assets held for use based on a review of undiscounted projected cash flows. Impairment losses, where identified, are measured as the excess of the carrying value of the long-lived asset over its estimated fair value as determined by discounted projected cash flows. No impairment charges for intangible assets with finite lives were recorded for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

Goodwill is the excess of cost of an acquired entity over the amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually in the fourth quarter of each year, and is tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate the carrying amount may be impaired. Impairment testing for goodwill is done at a reporting unit level, with all goodwill assigned to a reporting unit.

The test for goodwill impairment is a two-step process to first identify potential goodwill impairment for each reporting unit and then, if necessary, measure the amount of the impairment loss. The Company's reporting units are consistent with our geographies in Note 21. The Company completed the required annual goodwill impairment test during the fourth quarter of 2018. The first step of the goodwill impairment test compares the fair value of each of our reporting units to its carrying value. The Company estimates the fair value of its reporting units based primarily on the discounted projected cash flows of the underlying operations. The estimated fair value for each of its reporting units was in excess of its respective carrying values as of December 31, 2018.

For a summary of our goodwill by reporting unit, see Note 8.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

The minority interest shareholders of a certain subsidiary have the right in certain circumstances to require the Company to acquire either a portion of or all of the remaining ownership interests held by them. The owners’ ability to exercise any such “put option” right is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including conditions requiring notice in advance of exercise. In addition, these rights cannot be exercised prior to a specified exercise date. The exercise of these rights at their earliest contractual date would result in obligations of the Company to fund the related amounts in 2019. See Note 22.

The Company has recorded the put option as mezzanine equity at their current estimated redemption amount. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the balance of redeemable noncontrolling interests was $8,872.

Contingencies

The Company follows the provisions of ASC 450, “Contingencies,” which requires that an estimated loss from a loss contingency be accrued by a charge to income if it is both probable that an asset has been impaired or that a liability has been incurred and that the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.

Foreign Currency Translation

Local currencies generally are considered the functional currencies outside the United States. Assets and liabilities for operations in local-currency environments are translated at month-end exchange rates of the period reported. Income and expense items are translated at average exchange rates of each applicable month. Cumulative translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices, which may adversely affect its results of operations and financial condition. The Company seeks to minimize these risks through regular operating and financing activities and, when the Company considers it to be appropriate, through the use of derivative financial instruments.

The Company does not purchase, hold or sell derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The Company has elected not to prepare and maintain the documentation to qualify for hedge accounting treatment under ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging,” and therefore, all gains and losses (realized or unrealized) related to derivative instruments are recognized in interest and other expense, net in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss and depending on the fair value at the end of the reporting period, derivatives are recorded either in prepaid and other current assets or in accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company and its subsidiaries conduct business in various countries using both their functional currencies and other currencies to effect cross border transactions. As a result, they are subject to the risk that fluctuations in foreign exchange rates between the dates that those transactions are entered into and their respective settlement dates will result in a foreign exchange gain or loss. When practicable, the Company endeavors to match assets and liabilities in the same currency on its U.S. balance sheet and those of its subsidiaries in order to reduce these risks. The Company, when it considers it to be appropriate, enters into foreign currency contracts to hedge the exposures arising from those transactions. See Note 11.

The Company is exposed to credit risk if the counterparties to such transactions are unable to perform their obligations. However, the Company seeks to minimize such risk by entering into transactions with counterparties that are believed to be creditworthy financial institutions.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

Earnings (Loss) per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share are calculated on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings per share include shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options and stock-based awards where the conversion of such instruments would be dilutive. See Note 17.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs, including trade shows, were $13,562, $13,683 and $12,469 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Pension costs

The Company sponsors a retirement benefit for one of its non-U.S. subsidiaries in the form of a defined benefit pension plan. Accounting standards require the cost of providing this pension benefit be measured on an actuarial basis. Actuarial gains and losses resulting from both normal year-to-year changes in valuation assumptions and differences from actual experience are deferred and amortized. The application of these accounting standards requires management to make assumptions and judgements that can significantly affect these measurements. Critical assumptions made by management in performing these actuarial valuations include the selection of the discount rate to determine the present value of the pension obligations that affects the amount of pension expense recorded in any given period. Changes in the discount rate could have a material effect on the Company’s reported pension obligations and related pension expense. See Note 16.

Equity Compensation Plans

The Company recognizes compensation expense for its stock-based compensation programs, which include stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units ("RSU") and performance shares. For service-based awards, stock-based compensation is estimated at the grant date based on the fair value of the awards expected to vest and recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service period of the award. For stock options and awards with market conditions, compensation cost is determined at the individual tranche level. The Company recognizes forfeitures when they occur.

Income Taxes

The Company and the majority of its domestic subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return while it has four entities that file separate U.S. federal tax returns. The Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries file income tax returns in their respective jurisdictions.

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and tax benefit carryforwards. Deferred income tax liabilities and assets at the end of each period are determined using enacted tax rates.

The Company establishes a valuation allowance for those jurisdictions in which the expiration date of tax benefit carryforwards or projected taxable earnings leads the Company to conclude that it is “more likely than not” that a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The evaluation process includes the consideration of all available evidence regarding historical results and future projections including the estimated timing of reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and potential tax planning strategies. Once a valuation allowance is established, it is maintained until a change in factual circumstances gives rise to sufficient income of the appropriate character and timing that will allow a partial or full utilization of the deferred tax asset.

In accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” the impact of an uncertain tax position on the Company’s income tax returns is recognized at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be required to be recognized upon audit by the relevant taxing authority.

The Company includes interest and penalties accrued in the Consolidated Financial Statements as a component of income tax expense.

See Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting” (“ASU 2017-09”), in an effort to reduce diversity and clarify what constitutes a modification, as it relates to the change in terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. According to ASU 2017-09, the Company should account for the effects of a modification unless all of the following are met: (1) the fair value of the modified award is the same as the fair value of the original award immediately before the original award is modified, (2) the vesting conditions of the modified award are the same as the vesting conditions of the original award immediately before the original award is modified, and (3) the classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or a liability instrument is the same as the classification of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. The amendments in ASU 2017-09 are effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2017-09 beginning January 1, 2018 and the implementation of this guidance did not have a material effect on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, “Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost” (“ASU 2017-07”), which standardizes the presentation of net benefit cost in the income statement and on the components eligible for capitalization in assets. ASU 2017-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. The amendments in ASU 2017-07 should be applied retrospectively for the presentation of the service cost component and the other components of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost in the income statement and prospectively, on and after the effective date, for the capitalization of the service cost component of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit in assets. The Company adopted ASU 2017-07 in the first quarter of 2018 and the implementation of this guidance did not have a material effect on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” The standard outlines a five-step model whereby revenue is recognized as performance obligations within a contract are satisfied. The standard also requires new, expanded disclosures regarding revenue recognition. The Company adopted the standard using the modified retrospective transition method and applied its guidance to contracts not completed at the adoption date. The cumulative effect of initial adoption was recorded as a $576 decrease to the January 1, 2018 opening Accumulated Deficit balance and driven primarily by the timing of recognition related to marketing incentives. The effect of this adoption was immaterial to the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the Company does not expect a material effect to its Consolidated Financial Statements on an ongoing basis. Information for comparative periods has not been restated and continues to be reported under the previously applicable revenue accounting guidance ("ASC 605"). Had ASC 605 been applied to the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss would have shown increased Revenue and a decrease in Net Loss Attributable to 3D Systems Corporation of $332. On the Consolidated Balance Sheets, Other Assets would have been $567 lower, Deferred Revenues would have been $323 lower and the Accumulated Deficit would have increased by $244.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40)," which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a service contract hosting arrangement with those of developing or obtaining internal-use software. This standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the new standard will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, "Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income" (ASU 2018-02), which provides companies with an option to reclassify stranded tax effects resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. ASU 2018-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected not to early adopt the provisions of this ASU and expects there will not be a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities” (“ASU 2017-12”), in order to create more transparency around how economic results are presented within both the financial statements and in the footnotes and to better align the results of cash flow and fair value hedge accounting with risk management activities. ASU 2017-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating when it will adopt ASU 2017-12 and its impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-4, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (“ASU 2017-4”), which eliminates the performance of Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. In performing its annual or interim impairment testing, an entity will instead compare the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognize any impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. Additionally, an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company has elected not to early adopt the provisions of this ASU but will re-evaluate as part of performing our 2019 impairment analysis.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, "Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments" ("ASU 2016-13"), which provides guidance regarding the measurement of credit losses for financial assets and certain other instruments that are not accounted for at fair value through net income, including trade and other receivables, debt securities, net investment in leases, and off-balance sheet credit exposures. The new guidance requires companies to replace the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that measures all expected credit losses for financial assets based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The guidance expands the disclosure requirements regarding credit losses, including the credit loss methodology and credit quality indicators. ASU 2016-13 will be effective for annual reporting periods, including interim reporting within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for annual reporting periods, including interim periods after December 15, 2018 and will be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption of this standard on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than twelve months. The ASU also requires disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 is effective on January 1, 2019, using a modified retrospective method of adoption. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, “Targeted Improvements to ASC 842”, which includes an option to not restate comparative periods in transition and elect to use the effective date of ASC Topic 842, “Leases," as the date of initial application of transition. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2019 and elected the transition option provided under ASU 2018-11 to recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The Company also applied the package of practical expedients that allows it to avoid the reassessment of: (1) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, (2) lease classification for any expired or existing leases and (3) initial direct costs for any expired or existing leases. The Company also elected the practical expedient that allows it to treat the lease and non-lease components of its leases as a single component for its real estate leases. While the Company continues to review its population of leased assets, it expects to recognize operating lease liabilities ranging from $40 to $50 million, with corresponding right of use assets of the same amount based on the present value of the remaining lease payments over the lease term. Our accounting for capital leases will remain substantially unchanged. This standard is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations or cash flows.

No other new accounting pronouncements, issued or effective during 2018, have had or are expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.