New Accounting Pronouncements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

New Accounting Pronouncements

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASU 2014-09"). ASU 2014-09 provides a framework, through a five-step process, for recognizing revenue from customers, improves comparability and consistency of recognizing revenue across entities, industries, jurisdictions and capital markets, and requires enhanced disclosures. Certain contracts with customers are specifically excluded from the scope of ASU 2014-09, including, among others, insurance contracts accounted for under Accounting Standard Codification 944, Financial Services - Insurance. ASU 2014-09 is effective on January 1, 2017 with retrospective adoption required for the comparative periods. In recent re-deliberations, the FASB has decided to propose a one-year deferral of the effective date of ASU 2014-09, such that it will become effective on January 1, 2018. The Company is currently assessing the impact the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on future financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-15, "Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern" ("ASU 2014-15"). Currently, there is no guidance under U.S. GAAP regarding management's responsibility to assess whether there is substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern. Under ASU 2014-15, the Company will be required to assess its ability to continue as a going concern each interim and annual reporting period and provide certain disclosures if there is substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern, including management's plan to alleviate the substantial doubt. ASU 2014-15 is effective for the year ended December 31, 2016 and early adoption is permitted. The Company early adopted ASU 2014-15 on January 1, 2015.

In February 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-02, "Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis" ("ASU 2015-02"). ASU 2015-02 amends certain aspects of the consolidation guidance in U.S. GAAP. In particular, it will modify the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities ("VIEs") or voting interest entities and also eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership. The new guidance will also affect the consolidation analysis of the Company's interests in VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships. ASU 2015-02 is effective on January 1, 2016 and retrospectively adoption is required either through a modified retrospective approach by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the year of adoption or retrospectively for all comparative periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact the adoption of ASU 2015-02 will have on future financial statements and related disclosures.