NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2016

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 3. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

There were no changes to the new accounting pronouncements as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2015 except for the following:

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued amendments which aim to simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, classification of certain items on the statement of cash flows and accounting for forfeitures. The amendments are effective for us beginning November 1, 2017 with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the timing and the impact of adopting this guidance on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued updates related to Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Principal versus Agent Considerations. The amendments are intended to improve the operability and understandability of the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. The effective date for us is fiscal 2019 with early adoption permitted for us beginning November 1, 2017.  The company is currently assessing the potential impact of these amendments on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued amendments for simplifying the transition to the equity method of accounting. The amendments require that the equity method investor add the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor’s previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting. The amendments are effective for us beginning November 1, 2017 and interim periods in the following year. We are evaluating the potential impact of this amendment on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance which amends the existing accounting standards for leases. Consistent with existing guidance, the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on its classification. Under the new guidance, a lessee will be required to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. The new guidance is effective for us beginning November 1, 2020, and interim periods in the following year.  Early adoption of this guidance is permitted and we will be required to adopt using a modified retrospective approach. We are evaluating the timing and the impact of adopting this guidance on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In January 2016, the FASB issued amendments to address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. The standard requires entities to measure equity investments that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method at fair value and recognize any changes in fair value in net income. The provisions under this amendment are effective for us beginning November 1, 2018, and for interim periods in the following year and early adoption is not permitted. We are evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance to our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued guidance intended to simplify accounting for deferred taxes.  Beginning on November 1, 2017 and including the interim periods following that date, we will be required to present all deferred tax balances as non-current.  Existing GAAP guidance requires us to record deferred tax balances as either current or non-current in accordance with the classification of the underlying attributes.  Early adoption of this guidance is permitted and may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively to all periods presented. We adopted this guidance at the end of the period ended April 30, 2016 prospectively and therefore, the April 30, 2016 condensed consolidated balance sheet reflects the new disclosure requirements but prior periods have not been adjusted.

Other amendments to GAAP in the U.S. that have been issued by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption.