Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include those of Cerus Corporation and its subsidiary, Cerus Europe B.V. (collectively hereinafter "Cerus" or the "Company") after elimination of all intercompany accounts and transactions. These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, which are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Revenue

The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC Topic 605-25, "Revenue Recognition—Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables," as applicable. Revenue is recognized when (i) persuasive evidence of an agreement with the funding party exists; (ii) services have been rendered or product has been delivered; (iii) pricing is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collection is probable. The Company's main sources of revenues for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were product revenue from sales of the INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets and plasma ("platelet and plasma systems") and United States government grants and awards.

Revenue related to product sales is generally recognized when the Company fulfills its obligations for each element of an agreement. For all sales of our INTERCEPT Blood System products, the Company uses a binding purchase order and signed sales contract as evidence of a written agreement. The Company sells its platelet and plasma systems directly to blood banks, hospitals, universities, government agencies, as well as to distributors in certain regions. Generally, the Company's contracts with its customers do not provide for open return rights, except within a reasonable time after receipt of goods in the case of defective or non-conforming product. Deliverables and the units of accounting vary according to the provisions of each purchase order or sales contract. For revenue arrangements with multiple elements, the Company evaluates whether the delivered elements have stand-alone value to the customer. Effective January 1, 2011, the Company adopted the revised guidance in Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") No. 2009-13, which was issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB,") in October 2009 related to revenue recognition in accordance with the Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 605-25, "Revenue Recognition—Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables," on a prospective basis for applicable transactions originating or materially modified after December 31, 2010. Under the revised guidance, companies must assess whether or not revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables exist under the revised guidance, how the deliverables should be separated and how the consideration should be allocated to the elements. Prior to adoption of ASU No. 2009-13, consideration received was allocated to elements that were identified as discrete units of accounting based on the relative fair value method. Beginning January 1, 2011, upon the adoption of ASU No. 2009-13, consideration received is allocated to elements that are identified as discrete units of accounting based on the best estimated selling price. The Company has determined that vendor specific objective evidence is not discernable due to the Company's limited history of selling its products and variability in its pricing. Since the Company's products are novel and unique and are not sold by others, third-party evidence of selling price is unavailable. The adoption of the revised guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2011 nor is it currently anticipated to have a material impact on future periods.

At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company had $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of short-term deferred revenue on its consolidated balance sheets related to future performance obligations. Freight costs charged to customers are recorded as a component of revenue under ASC Topic 605, "Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs." Value-added-taxes ("VAT") that the Company invoices to its customers and remits to governments, are recorded on a net basis, which excludes such VAT from product revenue.

Revenue related to the cost reimbursement provisions under development contracts is recognized as the costs on the projects are incurred. The Company receives certain United States government grants and contracts that support research in defined research projects. These grants generally provide for reimbursement of approved costs incurred as defined in the various grants.

Research and Development Expenses

The Company receives certain United States government grants that support the Company's efforts in defined research projects. These grants generally provide for reimbursement of approved costs incurred as defined in the various grants. Revenue associated with these grants is recognized as costs under each grant are incurred. In addition, in accordance with ASC Topic 730, "Accounting for Research and Development Expenses," research and development expenses are charged to expense when incurred. Research and development expenses include salaries and related expenses for scientific personnel, payments to consultants, supplies and chemicals used in in-house laboratories, costs of research and development facilities, depreciation of equipment and external contract research expenses, including clinical trials, preclinical safety studies, other laboratory studies, process development and product manufacturing for research use.

The Company's use of estimates in recording accrued liabilities for research and development activities (described previously in this Note under the heading "Use of Estimates") affects the amounts of research and development expenses recorded and revenue recorded from development funding and government grants and collaborative agreements. Actual results may differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase to be classified as cash equivalents. Investments with original maturities of greater than three months but less than one year from the date of purchase as well as available-for-sale investments with original maturities of greater than one year from the date of purchase are classified as short-term investments. These investments primarily consist of marketable debt securities, which include money market instruments and United States government agency securities, and are classified as available-for-sale.

In accordance with ASC Topic 320, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities," the Company has classified all debt securities as available-for-sale at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designation as of each balance sheet date. Available-for-sale securities are carried at estimated fair value based on quoted market prices. Unrealized gains and losses derived by changes in the estimated fair value of available-for-sale securities are recorded in "Accumulated other comprehensive income" on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Realized gains and losses from the sale or maturity of available-for-sale investments are recorded in "Other income (expense), net" on the Company's consolidated statements of operations. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. The Company reports the amortization of any premium and accretion of any discount resulting from the purchase of debt securities as a component of interest expense.

The Company also reviews all of its marketable securities on a regular basis to evaluate whether any security has experienced an other-than-temporary decline in fair value. Other-than-temporary declines in market value are recorded in "Other income (expense), net" on the Company's consolidated statements of operations.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company also maintained a certificate of deposit for approximately $0.2 million with a domestic bank. The Company holds this certificate of deposit for any potential decommissioning resulting from the Company's possession of radioactive material. The certificate of deposit is held to satisfy the financial surety requirements of the California Department of Health Services and is recorded in "Restricted cash" on the Company's consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts receivable.

Substantially all of the Company's cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments are maintained pursuant to the Company's investment policy at a major financial institution of high credit standing. The Company monitors the financial credit worthiness of the issuers of its investments and limits the concentration in individual securities and type of investments that exist within its investment portfolio. Generally, all of the Company's remaining investments carry high credit quality ratings, which is in accordance with its investment policy. At December 31, 2011, the Company does not believe there is significant financial risk from non-performance by the issuers of the Company's cash equivalents and short-term investments.

Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables exist. However, in connection with the Company's revolving line of credit, as discussed in Note 12 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company purchased a credit insurance policy that mitigates some of its credit risk, as the policy will pay either the Company or its lender on eligible claims filed on its outstanding receivables. On a regular basis, including at the time of sale, the Company performs credit evaluations of its customers. Generally, the Company does not require collateral from its customers to secure accounts receivable. To the extent that the Company determines specific invoices or customer accounts may be uncollectible, the Company reserves against the accounts receivable on its consolidated balance sheets and records a charge on its consolidated statements of operations.

The Company recorded minimal amounts for allowances for potentially uncollectible accounts receivable at December 31, 2011 and approximately $0.1 million at December 31, 2010.

The Company had two and four customers that each accounted for more than 10% of the Company's outstanding trade receivables, which cumulatively represented approximately 58% and 63% of the Company's outstanding trade receivables, at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. To date, the Company has not experienced collection difficulties from these customers.

Inventories

Inventory consisted of work-in-process and finished goods only. Finished goods include INTERCEPT disposable kits, UVA illumination devices ("illuminators"), and certain replacement parts for the illuminators. Platelet and plasma systems' disposable kits generally have a two-year life from the date of manufacture. Illuminators and replacement parts do not have regulated expiration dates. Work-in-process includes certain components that are manufactured over a protracted length of time, which can exceed one year, before being incorporated and assembled by Fenwal, Inc. ("Fenwal") into the finished INTERCEPT disposable kits. The Company maintains an inventory balance based on its current sales projections, and at each reporting period, the Company evaluates whether its work-in-process inventory would be consumed for production of finished units in order to sell to existing and prospective customers within the next twelve-month period. It is not customary for the Company's production cycle for inventory to exceed twelve months. Instead, the Company uses its best judgment to factor in lead times for the production of its finished units to meet the Company's current demands. If actual results differ from those estimates, work-in-process inventory could potentially accumulate for periods exceeding one year. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company classified its work-in-process inventory as a current asset on its consolidated balance sheets based on its evaluation that the work-in-process inventory would be consumed for production and subsequently sold within each respective subsequent twelve-month period.

Inventory is recorded at the lower of cost, determined on a first-in, first-out basis, or market value. The Company uses significant judgment to analyze and determine if the composition of its inventory is obsolete, slow-moving or unsalable and frequently reviews such determinations. The Company's limited history selling the INTERCEPT Blood System limits the amount of historical data the Company has to perform this analysis. Generally, the Company writes-down specifically identified unusable, obsolete, slow-moving, or known unsalable inventory that has no alternative use in the period that it is first recognized by using a number of factors including product expiration dates, open and unfulfilled orders, and sales forecasts. Any write-down of its inventory to net realizable value establishes a new cost basis and will be maintained even if certain circumstances suggest that the inventory is recoverable in subsequent periods. Costs associated with the write-down of inventory are recorded in "Cost of product revenue" on the Company's consolidated statements of operations. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company had $0.6 million and $0.4 million, respectively, reserved for potential obsolete or expiring product.

Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment is comprised of furniture, equipment, information technology hardware and software and is recorded at cost. At the time the property and equipment is ready for its intended use, it is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets (generally three to five years). Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful lives of the improvements.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, net

Goodwill and intangible assets, net is derived at the time of a business acquisition, in which the Company assigns the total consideration transferred to the acquired assets based on each asset's fair value and any residual amount becomes goodwill, an indefinite life intangible asset. Intangible assets, net, which include a license for the right to commercialize the INTERCEPT Blood System in Asia, are subject to periodic amortization over the estimated useful life of ten years. The amortization of the Company's intangible assets, net, is recorded in "Amortization of intangible assets" on the Company's consolidated statements of operations.

Goodwill is not amortized but instead is subject to an impairment test performed on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill may be impaired. The Company evaluates goodwill on an annual basis on August 31 of each fiscal year. The test for goodwill impairment is a two-step process. The first step compares the fair value of each reporting unit with its respective carrying amount, including goodwill. The Company has determined that it operates in one reporting unit and estimates the fair value of its one reporting unit using the enterprise approach under which it considers the quoted market capitalization of the Company as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market. The Company considers quoted market prices that are available in active markets to be the best evidence of fair value. The Company also considers other factors, which include future forecasted results, the economic environment and overall market conditions. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is not considered impaired and, therefore, the second step of the impairment test is unnecessary. The second step, which is used to measure the amount of impairment loss, compares the implied fair value of each reporting unit's goodwill with the respective carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit's goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess.

See Note 8 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the Company's impairment analysis and the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, net.

Long-lived Assets

The Company evaluates its long-lived assets for impairment by continually monitoring events and changes in circumstances that could indicate carrying amounts of its long-lived assets may not be recoverable. When such events or changes in circumstances occur, the Company assesses recoverability by determining whether the carrying value of such assets will be recovered through the undiscounted expected future cash flows. If the expected undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of these assets, the Company then measures the amount of the impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the assets. The Company did not recognize impairment charges related to its long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Foreign Currency Remeasurement

The functional currency of the Company's foreign subsidiary is the United States dollar. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are remeasured in United States dollars using the exchange rates at the balance sheet date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are remeasured in United States dollars using historical exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are remeasured using average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Remeasurements are recorded in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. The Company recorded foreign currency losses of $0.5 million, $0.8 million and $0.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718, "Compensation —Stock Compensation." Stock-based compensation expense is measured at the grant-date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period, and is adjusted for estimated forfeitures. To the extent that stock options contain performance criteria for vesting, stock-based compensation is recognized once the performance criteria are probable of being achieved.

For stock-based awards issued to non-employees, the Company follows ASC Topic 505-50, "Equity Based Payment to Non-Employees" and considers the measurement date at which the fair value of the stock-based award is measured to be the earlier of (i) the date at which a commitment for performance by the grantee to earn the equity instrument is reached or (ii) the date at which the grantee performance is complete. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense for the fair value of the vested portion of the non-employee stock-based awards in its consolidated statements of operations.

See Note 15 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the Company's stock-based compensation assumptions and expenses.

Warrant Liability

In August 2009 and November 2010, the Company issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 2.4 million and 3.7 million shares of common stock, respectively. The material terms of the warrants were identical under each issuance except for the exercise price, date issued and expiration date. The Company classified the warrants as a liability on its consolidated balance sheets as the warrants contain certain material terms which require the Company (or its successor) to purchase the warrants for cash in an amount equal to the value of the unexercised portion of the warrants (as determined in accordance with the Black-Scholes option pricing model) in connection with certain change of control transactions. In addition, the Company may also be required to pay cash to a warrant holder under certain circumstances if the Company is unable to timely deliver the shares acquired upon warrant exercise to such holder.

The fair value of these outstanding warrants is calculated using the binomial-lattice option-pricing model and is adjusted accordingly at each reporting period. The binomial-lattice option-pricing model requires that the Company uses significant assumptions and judgment to determine appropriate inputs to the model. Some of the assumptions that the Company relies on include the probability of a change of control occurring, the volatility of the Company's stock over the life of the warrant and assumptions and inputs used to value the warrants under the Black-Scholes model should a change of control occur.

Gains and losses from warrant revaluation are recorded in "Gain from revaluation of warrant liability" on the consolidated statements of operations. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company recorded non-cash gains of $0.5 million associated with changes in the fair value of the warrants, and recorded non-cash gains of less than $0.1 million during each of the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. Upon the exercise or modification to remove the provisions which require the warrants to be treated as a liability, the fair value of the warrants will be reclassified from a liability to stockholders' equity on the Company's consolidated balance sheets and no further adjustment to the fair value would be made in subsequent periods.

See Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the Company's valuation of warrant liability.

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The components of comprehensive loss included net loss and other comprehensive income (loss). The Company's only component of other comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 consisted of unrealized gains or losses from the Company's available-for-sale short-term investments. Other comprehensive income (loss) is reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using an asset and liability approach in accordance with ASC Topic 740 "Accounting for Income Taxes." Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. ASC Topic 740 requires derecognition of tax positions that do not have a greater than 50% likelihood of being recognized upon review by a taxing authority having full knowledge of all relevant information. Use of a valuation allowance as described in ASC Topic 740 is not an appropriate substitute for the derecognition of a tax position. The Company did not have any recorded liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits at both December 31, 2011 and 2010. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in its income tax expense. To date, the Company has not recognized any interest and penalties in its consolidated statements of operations, nor has its accrued for or made payments for interest and penalties. The Company continues to carry a full valuation allowance on all of its deferred tax assets. Although the Company believes it more likely than not that a taxing authority would agree with its current tax positions, there can be no assurance that the tax positions the Company has taken will be substantiated by a taxing authority if reviewed. The Company's tax years 2007 through 2011 remain subject to examination by the taxing jurisdictions.

Net Loss Per Share

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted loss per share uses the same weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period as calculated for the basic loss per share as the inclusion of any commons stock equivalents would be anti-dilutive. If the Company earned net income, diluted earnings per share would assume conversion of all potentially dilutive securities, such as stock options, convertible preferred stock, ESPP rights, warrants and restricted stock units.

The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used in the computation of basic and diluted net loss per common share for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands, except per share amounts):


	Years Ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Numerator for Basic and Diluted:
Net loss	$	(16,982	)	$	(16,911	)	$	(24,135	)
Denominator:
Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding		48,050			40,300			34,750
Effect of dilutive potential common shares resulting from convertible preferred stock, stock options, restricted stock units, warrants and ESPP rights		0			0			0

Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding		48,050			40,300			34,750

Net loss per common share:
Basic	$	(0.35	)	$	(0.42	)	$	(0.69	)
Diluted	$	(0.35	)	$	(0.42	)	$	(0.69	)

The table below presents common shares underlying stock options, convertible preferred stock, ESPP rights, warrants and restricted stock units that are excluded from the diluted net loss per common share due to their anti-dilutive effect for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 (shares in thousands):

Years Ended December 31,

2011

2010

2009

Weighted average of anti-dilutive common shares

13,595

9,867

7,662

Guarantee and Indemnification Arrangements

The Company recognizes the fair value for guarantee and indemnification arrangements issued or modified by the Company after December 31, 2002. In addition, the Company monitors the conditions that are subject to the guarantees and indemnifications in order to identify if a loss has occurred. If the Company determines it is probable that a loss has occurred, then any such estimable loss would be recognized under those guarantees and indemnifications. Some of the agreements that the Company is a party to contain provisions that indemnify the counter party from damages and costs resulting from claims that the Company's technology infringes the intellectual property rights of a third party or claims that the sale or use of the Company's products have caused personal injury or other damage or loss. The Company has not received any such requests for indemnification under these provisions and has not been required to make material payments pursuant to these provisions.

The Company generally provides for a one-year warranty on certain of its INTERCEPT blood-safety products covering defects in materials and workmanship. The Company accrues costs associated with warranty obligations when claims become known and are estimable. There have been very few warranty costs incurred through December 31, 2011, and the Company is unaware of any future warranty claims. Accordingly, at December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company had not accrued for any potential future warranty costs.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company applies the provisions of fair value relating to its financial assets and liabilities. The carrying amounts of accounts receivables, accounts payable, and other accrued liabilities approximate their fair value due to the relative short-term maturities. Based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for loans with similar terms, the Company believes the fair value of its debt approximates their carrying amounts. The Company measures and records certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, including its available-for-sale securities and warrant liability. The Company classifies instruments within Level 1 if quote prices are available in active markets, which include its money market funds as the maturity of money market funds are relatively short and the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value. The Company classifies instruments in Level 2 if the instruments are valued using observable inputs to quoted market prices, benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. These instruments include the Company's available-for-sale securities related to United States government agencies and corporate debt securities. The available-for-sale securities are held by a custodian who obtains investment prices from a third party pricing provider that uses standard inputs to models which vary by asset class. The Company classifies instruments in Level 3 if one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable, which include its warrant liability. The Company assesses any transfers among fair value measurement levels at the end of each reporting period.

See Note 4 and 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the Company's valuation on financial instruments.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the FASB issued updated fair value measurement guidance under ASU No. 2011-04 "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs," surrounding changes in the valuation premise of highest and best use of an asset, the application of premiums and discounts, and enhanced disclosure requirements. Under ASU No. 2011-04, the measurement of fair value of financial instruments will primarily be measured at the level of the unit of account whereas it was historically able to utilize the valuation premise of highest and best use of an asset, which can be applied primarily to measuring the fair value of nonfinancial assets only going forward. In addition, the application of blockage factors and other premiums and discounts in a fair value measurement will be prohibited in the valuation of all fair value levels of the hierarchy. The new disclosure requirements include, but are not limited to, further qualitative and quantitative discussions regarding level 3 fair value measurements, specifically significant unobservable inputs used, description of the valuation processes and sensitivity analysis, the disclosure of any transfers and the reasons thereof between levels 1 and 2, and the determination of assets and liabilities that are not recorded at fair value to be categorized under the fair value hierarchy. The updated fair value measurement guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, which will begin for the Company on January 1, 2012. The Company does not anticipate that the additional disclosure requirements will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05 "Presentation of Comprehensive Income," which eliminates the presentation of other comprehensive income from the consolidated statements of stockholders' equity. Instead, companies would have the option to display net income and other comprehensive income in two separate, but consecutive statements or combine net income and other comprehensive income in one continuous statement, which would be referred to the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The new presentation requirements under this guidance are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, which will begin for the Company on January 1, 2012, and retrospective application is required for all periods presented. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12 "Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05," which defers only the presentation of reclassification adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive income to net income. The reclassification adjustment presentation requirement under ASU No. 2011-12 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012, which will begin for the Company on January 1, 2013. The Company does not anticipate that the additional disclosure requirements under both ASU Nos. 2011-05 and 2011-12 will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. The Company expects to adopt the presentation for net income and other comprehensive income in two separate, but consecutive statements.

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08 "Testing Goodwill for Impairment," which allows a company to test goodwill for impairment by first assessing the qualitative factors, which has also been updated under this guidance, to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying amount. If a company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying amount, a company must then proceed with performing the quantitative two-step process to test goodwill for impairment; otherwise, goodwill is not considered impaired and no further testing is warranted. Under ASU No. 2011-08, the qualitative assessment is optional, such that a company has the choice to perform the goodwill impairment test under the original quantitative two-step approach only. The optional qualitative procedure for testing goodwill impairment under this guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, which will begin for the Company on January 1, 2012; however, early adoption is permitted. The Company does not anticipate that the update to this accounting standard will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.