Recent Accounting Standards

From time to time, the FASB or other standards setting bodies issue new accounting pronouncements. Updates to the FASB ASCs are communicated through issuance of an Accounting Standards Update ("ASU"). Unless otherwise discussed, we believe that the impact of recently issued guidance, whether adopted or to be adopted in the future, is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

Financial Instruments - As of January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2016-01, "Financial Instruments – Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities" (ASU 2016-01), which requires us to prospectively record changes in the fair value of our equity investments, except for those accounted for under the equity method, in net income instead of in accumulated other comprehensive income.  As of January 1, 2018, we recognized a decrease of $34,822 in retained deficit for the cumulative effect of the adoption of ASU 2016-01, with an offset to accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI). 

Revenue Recognition – As of January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (ASU 2014-09).  Under the new guidance, an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.  Leasing revenue recognition is specifically excluded and therefore the new standard is only applicable to service fee and consulting revenue.  A five-step model has been introduced for an entity to apply when recognizing revenue.  The new guidance also includes enhanced disclosure requirements.  The guidance was effective January 1, 2018 and was applied on a modified retrospective basis.  The adoption did not have an impact on our financial statements. 

Lease Accounting - In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-2, “Leases” (ASU 2016-02) which requires lessees to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for the rights and obligations created by all leases, including operating leases, with terms of more than 12 months.  The new guidance also requires additional disclosures on the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. These disclosures include qualitative and quantitative information. The new guidance will be effective for us at the beginning of fiscal year 2019. Early adoption is permitted. We are in the process of evaluating the impact the adoption of this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

We also adopted the following standards during 2018, none of which had a material impact on our financial statements or financial statement disclosures