NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

EPAM is a leading global provider of complex software engineering solutions and information technology ("IT") services to clients throughout North America, Western and Eastern Europe, Russia and Asia. The Company serves primarily Fortune Global 2000 companies in various industries with the main focus on Independent Software Vendors (“ISVs”) and technology, banking and financial services, business information and media, and travel and hospitality. Other industries include retail, energy, life sciences, healthcare, telecommunications, and government.

Since EPAM’s inception in 1993, the Company has focused on providing software product development services, software engineering and vertically-oriented custom development solutions through its global delivery model. This has served as a foundation for the Company’s other solutions, including custom application development, application testing, platform-based solutions, application maintenance and support, and infrastructure management.

The Company is incorporated in Delaware with headquarters in Newtown, PA, with multiple delivery centers located in Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, China, Armenia and Poland, and client management locations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, Russia, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia.

Emerging growth company status — In April 2012, several weeks after EPAM’s initial public offering in February 2012, President Obama signed into law the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). The JOBS Act contains provisions that relax certain requirements for “emerging growth companies” that otherwise apply to larger public companies. For as long as a company retains emerging growth company status, it will not be required to (1) provide an auditor’s attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, otherwise required by Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, (2) comply with any new or revised financial accounting standard applicable to public companies until such standard is also applicable to private companies, (3) comply with certain new requirements adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, (4) provide certain disclosure regarding executive compensation required of larger public companies or (5) hold shareholder advisory votes on matters relating to executive compensation. Based on EPAM's market capitalization on June 30, 2014, it was deemed a large accelerated filer as of December 31, 2014. Therefore, EPAM no longer qualifies as an emerging growth company.

Principles of Consolidation — The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of EPAM Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience, knowledge of current conditions and its beliefs of what could occur in the future, given available information. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to the financial statements.

Revenue Recognition — The Company recognizes revenue when realized or realizable and earned, which is when the following criteria are met: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; delivery has occurred; the sales price is fixed or determinable; and collectability is reasonably assured. Determining whether and when some of these criteria have been satisfied often involves assumptions and judgments that can have a significant impact on the timing and amount of revenue we report. If there is an uncertainty about the project completion or receipt of payment for the services, revenues are deferred until the uncertainty is sufficiently resolved. At the time revenues are recognized, the Company provides for any contractual deductions and reduces revenues accordingly. The Company defers amounts billed to its clients for revenues not yet earned. Such amounts are anticipated to be recorded as revenues as services are performed in subsequent periods. Unbilled revenues represent services provided which are billed subsequent to the period end in accordance with the contract terms.

The Company derives its revenues from a variety of service offerings, which represent specific competencies of its IT professionals. Contracts for these services have different terms and conditions based on the scope, deliverables, and complexity of the engagement, which require management to make judgments and estimates in determining appropriate revenue recognition pattern. Fees for these contracts may be in the form of time-and-materials or fixed-price arrangements.

The majority of the Company’s revenues (84.7% of revenues in 2014, 82.3% in 2013 and 84.1% in 2012) is generated under time-and-material contracts whereby revenues are recognized as services are performed with the corresponding cost of providing those services reflected as cost of revenues when incurred. The majority of such revenues are billed on an hourly, daily or monthly basis whereby actual time is charged directly to the client.

Revenues from fixed-price contracts (13.6% of revenues in 2014, 15.7% in 2013 and 13.7% in 2012) are determined using the proportional performance method. In instances where final acceptance of the product, system, or solution is specified by the client, revenues are deferred until all acceptance criteria have been met. In absence of a sufficient basis to measure progress towards completion, revenue is recognized upon receipt of final acceptance from the client. In order to estimate the amount of revenue for the period under the proportional performance method, the Company determines the percentage of actual labor hours incurred as compared to estimated total labor hours and applies that percentage to the consideration allocated to the deliverable. The complexity of the estimation process and factors relating to the assumptions, risks and uncertainties inherent with the application of the proportional performance method of accounting affects the amounts of revenues and related expenses reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. A number of internal and external factors can affect such estimates, including labor hours and specification and testing requirement changes. The cumulative impact of any revision in estimates is reflected in the financial reporting period in which the change in estimate becomes known. No significant revisions occurred in each of the three years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012. The Company’s fixed price contracts are generally recognized over a period of 12 months or less.

The Company reports gross reimbursable “out-of-pocket” expenses incurred as both revenues and cost of revenues in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

Cost of Revenues (Exclusive of Depreciation and Amortization) — Consists principally of salaries, employee benefits, stock compensation expense and non-reimbursable travel costs for IT professionals, and subcontractor fees.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses — Consist of expenses associated with promoting and selling the Company’s services and include such items as the cost of advertising and other promotional activities as well as sales and marketing personnel salaries, stock compensation expense and related fringe benefits, commissions and travel. General and administrative expenses include other operating items such as officers’ and administrative personnel salaries, stock compensation expense and related fringe benefits as well as legal and audit expenses, insurance, provision for doubtful accounts, and operating lease expenses.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments — The Company makes significant assumptions about fair values of its financial instruments. Fair value is determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The Company utilizes the following fair value hierarchy in determining fair values:

Level 1 — Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 — Inputs other than quoted prices within Level 1 that are observable either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices in markets that are not active, quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, and observable inputs other than quoted prices such as interest rates or yield curves.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs reflecting our view about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

Where the fair values of financial assets and liabilities recorded in the consolidated balance sheets cannot be derived from an active market, they are determined using a variety of valuation techniques. These valuation techniques include a net present value technique, comparison to similar instruments with market observable inputs, options pricing models and other relevant valuation models. Inputs into these models are taken from observable market data whenever possible, but in instances where it is not reasonably feasible, a degree of judgment is required to establish fair values.

Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured At Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The Company had no assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, other than contingent liabilities in connection with the acquisitions of businesses.

At December 31, 2014, contingent liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis comprised contingent consideration payable in cash and stock, and performance-based awards issued to certain former owners of the acquired businesses in exchange for future services.

The Company estimates the fair value of contingent liabilities based on certain performance milestones of the acquired businesses, and estimated probabilities of achievement, then discounts the liabilities to present value using the Company’s cost of debt for the cash component of contingent consideration, and risk free rate for the stock component of a contractual contingency. Contingent liabilities are valued using significant inputs that are not observable in the market which are defined as Level 3 inputs pursuant to fair value measurement accounting. The Company believes its estimates and assumptions are reasonable, however, there is significant judgment involved. Changes in the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities primarily result from changes in the timing and amount of specific milestone estimates and changes in probability assumptions with respect to the likelihood of achieving the various earnout criteria. These changes could cause a material impact to, and volatility in the Company’s operating results. See Note 17 for contingent liabilities activity.

Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured At Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis

The amounts of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities, with the exceptions of employee housing loans and other employee loans described further herein, approximate fair value because of their short-term maturities.

Employee Housing Loans — The housing loans were classified as Level 3 measurements within the fair value hierarchy because they were valued using significant unobservable inputs. The estimated fair value of these housing loans upon initial recognition was computed by projecting the future contractual cash flows to be received from the loans and discounting those projected net cash flows to a present value, which is the estimated fair value (the “Income Approach”). In applying the Income Approach, the Company analyzed similar loans offered by third-party financial institutions in Belarusian Rubles (“BYR”) and adjusted the interest rates charged on such loans to exclude the effects of underlying economic factors, such as inflation and currency devaluation. The Company also assessed the probability of future defaults and associated cash flows impact. In addition, the Company separately analyzed the rate of return that market participants in Belarus would require when investing in unsecured USD-denominated government bonds with similar maturities (a “risk-free rate”) and evaluated a risk premium component to compensate the market participants for the credit and liquidity risks inherent in the loans’ cash flows. As a result of the analysis performed, the Company determined the carrying values of the housing loans issued during the year ended December 31, 2014 approximated their fair values upon initial recognition. The Company also estimated the fair values of the housing loans that were outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 using the inputs noted above and determined their fair values approximated the carrying values as of that date.

Employee Loans, Other — The Company also issues short-term non-interest bearing relocation loans and other employee loans. These loans are considered Level 3 measurements. The Company’s Level 3, unobservable inputs reflect its assumptions about the factors that market participants use in pricing similar receivables, and are based on the best information available in the circumstances. Due to the short-term nature of employee loans (i.e., the relatively short time between the origination of the instrument and its expected realization), the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value. As of December 31, 2014, the carrying values of these employee loans approximated their fair values.

Business Combinations — The Company accounts for its business combinations using the acquisition accounting method, which requires it to determine the fair value of net assets acquired and the related goodwill and other intangible assets. The Company identifies and attributes fair values and estimated lives to the intangible assets acquired and allocates the total cost of an acquisition to the underlying net assets based on their respective estimated fair values. Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires management’s judgment and involves the use of significant estimates, including projections of future cash inflows and outflows, discount rates, asset lives and market multiples. There are different valuation models for each component, the selection of which requires considerable judgment. These determinations will affect the amount of amortization expense recognized in future periods. The Company bases its fair value estimates on assumptions it believes are reasonable, but recognizes that the assumptions are inherently uncertain.

If initial accounting for the business combination has not been completed by the end of the reporting period in which the business combination occurs, provisional amounts are reported for which the accounting is incomplete, with retrospective adjustment made to such provisional amounts during the measurement period to present new information about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date. Once the measurement period ends, and in no case beyond one year from the acquisition date, revisions of the accounting for the business combination are recorded in earnings.

All acquisition-related costs, other than the costs to issue debt or equity securities, are accounted for as expenses in the period in which they are incurred. Changes in fair value of contingent consideration arrangements that are not measurement period adjustments are recognized in earnings. Payments to settle contingent consideration, if any, are reflected in cash flows from financing activities and the changes in fair value are reflected in cash flows from operating activities in the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows.

The Company’s acquisitions usually do not have significant amounts of tangible assets, as the principal assets typically acquired are customer relationships, trade names, non-competition agreements, and workforce. As a result, a substantial portion of the purchase price is allocated to goodwill and other intangible assets.

Cash and Cash Equivalents — Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into cash, with maturities of three months or less at the date acquired. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013 the Company had no cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash — Restricted cash represents cash that is restricted by agreements with third parties for special purposes and includes time deposits. See Note 6 for items that constitute restricted cash.

Accounts Receivable — Accounts receivable are stated net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Outstanding accounts receivable are reviewed periodically and allowances are provided at such time the management believes it is probable that such balances will not be collected within a reasonable time. The allowance for doubtful accounts is determined by evaluating the relative creditworthiness of each client, historical collections experience and other information, including the aging of the receivables. Accounts receivable are generally written off when they are deemed uncollectible. Bad debts are recorded based on historical experience and management's evaluation of accounts receivable.

The table below summarizes movements in qualifying accounts for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:



	Balance at Beginning of Period		Charged to Costs and Expenses		Deductions/ Other			Balance at End of Year
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (Billed and Unbilled):
Fiscal Year 2012	$	2,250	$	1,244	$	(1,291	)	$	2,203
Fiscal Year 2013	2,203		619		(1,022		)	1,800
Fiscal Year 2014	1,800		1,325		(944		)	2,181

Employee Loans — Loans are initially recorded at their fair value, and subsequently measured at their amortized cost, less allowance for loan losses, if any. The Company intends to hold all employee loans until their maturity. Interest income is reported using the effective interest method. Where applicable, loan origination fees, net of direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized in interest income over the life of the loan.

Property and Equipment — Property and equipment acquired in the ordinary course of the Company’s operations are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets generally ranging from three to 50 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the term of the lease or the estimated useful life of the improvement. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets — Goodwill and intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives are treated consistently with ASC 350. They are tested annually for impairment and are not amortized.

The Company performs an annual impairment test by comparing the respective fair value of its reporting units to their respective carrying values to identify if any impairment indicators exist. If an indicator of impairment is identified, the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is compared to its carrying amount, and the impairment loss is measured by the excess of the carrying value over fair value. The fair values are estimated using a combination of the income approach, which incorporates the use of the discounted cash flow method, and the market approach, which incorporates the use of earnings multiples based on market data. These valuations are considered Level 3 measurements under FASB ASC Topic 820. The Company utilizes estimates to determine the fair value of the reporting units such as future cash flows, growth rates, capital requirements, effective tax rates and projected margins, among other factors. Estimates utilized in the future evaluations of goodwill for impairment could differ from estimates used in the current period calculations. The Company is also required to assess the goodwill of its reporting units for impairment between annual assessment dates when events or circumstances dictate.

Intangible assets that have finite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis.

Effective in the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company changed the annual goodwill impairment assessment date for all of its reporting units from December 31^st to October 31^st, which represented a voluntary change in the annual goodwill impairment testing date. The Company evaluates the recoverability of goodwill at a reporting unit level and it had three reporting units, which had goodwill, that were subject to the annual impairment testing in 2014. See Note 3 for disclosure regarding goodwill and intangible assets.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets — Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, and finite lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable and exceeds the asset's fair value. When the carrying value of an asset is more than the sum of the undiscounted cash flows that are expected to result from the asset's use and eventual disposition, it is considered to be unrecoverable. Therefore, when an asset’s carrying value will not be recovered and it is more than its fair value the Company would deem the asset to be impaired. Property and equipment held for disposal are carried at the lower of the current carrying value or fair value less estimated costs to sell. The Company did not incur any impairment of long-lived assets for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

Income Taxes — The provision for income taxes includes federal, state, local and foreign taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year in which the temporary differences are expected to be reversed. Changes to enacted tax rates would result in either increases or decreases in the provision for income taxes in the period of changes. The Company evaluates the realizability of deferred tax assets and recognizes a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that all, or a portion of, deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The realization of deferred tax assets is primarily dependent on future earnings. Any reduction in estimated forecasted results may require that we record valuation allowances against deferred tax assets. Once a valuation allowance has been established, it will be maintained until there is sufficient positive evidence to conclude that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized. A pattern of sustained profitability will generally be considered as sufficient positive evidence to reverse a valuation allowance. If the allowance is reversed in a future period, the income tax provision will be correspondingly reduced. Accordingly, the increase and decrease of valuation allowances could have a significant negative or positive impact on future earnings. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements for further information.

Changes in tax laws and rates may affect recorded deferred tax assets and liabilities and our effective tax rate in the future. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (the “Act”) was signed into law on January 2, 2013. Because a change in tax law is accounted for in the period of enactment, certain provisions of the Act benefiting the Company’s 2012 U.S. federal taxes, including the Subpart F controlled foreign corporation look-through exception were not recognized in the Company’s 2012 financial results and instead were reflected in the Company’s 2013 financial results.

Earnings per Share (“EPS”) — Basic EPS is computed by dividing the net income applicable to common stockholders for the period by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the same period. The Company’s Series A-1 Preferred, Series A-2 Preferred, and Series A-3 Preferred Stock, that had been outstanding and convertible into common stock until February 13, 2012 (the date of the Company’s initial public offering), and our puttable common stock were considered participating securities since these securities had non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents during the contractual period and thus required the two-class method of computing EPS. When calculating diluted EPS, the numerator is computed by adding back the undistributed earnings allocated to the participating securities in arriving at the basic EPS and then reallocating such undistributed earnings among our common stock, participating securities and the potential common shares that result from the assumed exercise of all dilutive options. The denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding had the options been issued.

Stock-Based Compensation — Equity-based compensation cost relating to the issuance of share-based awards to employees is based on the fair value of the award at the date of grant, which is expensed ratably over the requisite service period, net of estimated forfeitures. The forfeiture assumption is ultimately adjusted to the actual forfeiture rate. Therefore, changes in the forfeiture assumptions may affect the timing of the total amount of expense recognized over the vesting period. The service period is the period over which the employee performs the related services, which is normally the same as the vesting period. Equity-based awards that do not require future service are expensed immediately. Equity-based awards that do not meet criteria for equity classification are recorded in liabilities and adjusted to fair value at the end of each reporting period. Distributions associated with liability-classified awards not expected to vest are accounted for as compensation expense in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments — Include credit instruments, such as standby letters of credit and guarantees issued under customer contracts. The face amount for these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering available collateral or the borrower’s ability to repay. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded. Loss contingencies arising from off-balance sheet credit exposures are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company does not believe there are such matters that will have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

Foreign Currency Translation — Assets and liabilities of consolidated foreign subsidiaries, whose functional currency is the local currency, are translated to U.S. dollars at period end exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are translated to U.S. dollars at daily exchange rates. The adjustment resulting from translating the financial statements of such foreign subsidiaries to U.S. dollars is reflected as a cumulative translation adjustment and reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.

The Company reports the effect of exchange rate changes on cash balances held in foreign currencies as a separate item in the reconciliation of the changes in cash and cash equivalents during the period. Transaction gains and losses are included in the period in which they occur.

Risks and Uncertainties — Principally all of the Company’s IT delivery centers and a majority of its employees are located in Central and Eastern Europe and the APAC region. As a result, the Company may be subject to certain inherent risks associated with international operations, including the application and imposition of protective legislation and regulations relating to import and export; difficulties in enforcing intellectual property and contractual rights; complying with a wide variety of foreign laws; potentially adverse tax consequences; tariffs, quotas and other trade protection methods; and overall foreign policy and variability of foreign economic conditions.

Concentration of Credit — The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments with financial institutions. The Company determined that the Company's credit policies reflect normal industry terms and business risk and there is no expectation of non-performance by the counterparties. As of December 31, 2014, $59.3 million of total cash was held in CIS countries, with $34.2 million of that in Belarus. Banking and other financial systems in the CIS region are less developed and regulated than in some more developed markets, and legislation relating to banks and bank accounts is subject to varying interpretations and inconsistent application. Banks in the CIS region generally do not meet the banking standards of more developed markets and bank deposits made by corporate entities in the CIS region are not insured. The CIS banking sector remains subject to periodic instability and the transparency of the banking sector lags behind international standards. A banking crisis, bankruptcy or insolvency of banks that process or hold our funds, particularly in Belarus, may result in the loss of our deposits or adversely affect our ability to complete banking transactions in the CIS region, which could materially adversely affect our business and financial condition.

As of December 31, 2014, unbilled trade receivables from one customer, UBS AG, individually exceeded 10% and accounted for 16.5% of our total unbilled trade receivables as of that date. There were no customers individually exceeding 10% of our billed trade receivables as of December 31, 2014.

During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, revenues from our top five customers were $239,396, $169,987 and $134,484, respectively, representing 32.8%, 30.6% and 31.0%, respectively, of total revenues in the corresponding periods. Revenues from our top ten customers were $320,126, $234,955 and $192,426 in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, representing 43.9%, 42.3% and 44.4%, respectively, of total revenues in corresponding periods.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company had one customer, UBS AG, with revenues of $97.6 million, which accounted for more than 10% of total revenues. No customer accounted for over 10% of total revenues in 2013 and 2012.

During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 the Company incurred subcontractor costs of $1,885, $2,078 and $3,535, respectively, to a vendor for staffing, consulting, training, recruiting and other logistical / support services provided for the Company’s delivery and development operations in Eastern Europe. Such costs are included in cost of revenues and sales, general and administrative expenses, as appropriate, in the accompanying consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

Foreign currency risk — The Company generates revenues in various global markets based on client contracts obtained in non-U.S. dollar currencies, principally, Euros, British pounds, Canadian dollars, and Russian rubles. The Company incurs expenditures in non-U.S. dollar currencies, principally in Hungarian forints, Euros, Russian rubles, and Hong Kong dollars and China yuan renminbi (“CNY”) associated with the IT delivery centers located in CEE and APAC regions. The Company is exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates primarily on accounts receivable and unbilled revenues from sales in these foreign currencies, and cash flows for expenditures in foreign currencies. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments to hedge the risk of foreign exchange volatility.

Interest rate risk — The Company’s exposure to market risk is influenced primarily by changes in interest rates on interest payments received on cash and cash equivalent deposits and paid on any outstanding balance on the Company's revolving line of credit, which is subject to a variety of rates depending on the type and timing of funds borrowed (see Note 12). The Company does not use derivative financial instruments to hedge the risk of interest rate volatility.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-17, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Pushdown Accounting. The update provides an acquired entity with an option to apply pushdown accounting in its separate financial statements upon occurrence of an event in which an acquirer obtains control of the acquired entity. An acquired entity may also elect the option to apply pushdown accounting in the reporting period in which the change-in-control event occurs. However, if the financial statements for the period in which the most recent change-in-control event occurred already have been issued or made available to be issued, the application of this guidance would be a change in accounting principle. The amendment is effective on November 18, 2014. The implementation of this standard is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-16, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share Is More Akin to Debt or to Equity. The update aims to eliminate the use of different methods in practice and thereby reduce existing diversity under GAAP in the accounting for hybrid financial instruments issued in the form of a share. The amendments are effective for annual period and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015 with early adoption permitted. The implementation of this standard is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as the Company currently does not engage in derivatives and hedging.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. The amendments in this update provide guidance about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. These amendments aim to reduce diversity in the timing and content of footnote disclosures. The amendments in this update are effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter, with early adoption permitted. The implementation of this standard is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, which requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. A reporting entity should apply existing guidance in Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, as it relates to awards with performance conditions that affect vesting to account for such awards. The standard is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 with early adoption permitted. Entities may apply the amendments in this ASU either: (a) prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date or (b) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. The implementation of this standard is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, which impacts virtually all aspects of an entity’s revenue recognition. The ASU introduces a new five-step revenue recognition model in which an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU also requires disclosures sufficient to enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers, including qualitative and quantitative disclosures about contracts with customers, significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. This standard is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity, which changes the criteria for determining which disposals can be presented as discontinued operations and modifies the related disclosure requirements. To qualify as a discontinued operation the standard requires a disposal to represent a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results. The standard also expands the disclosures for discontinued operations and requires new disclosures related to individually material dispositions that do not qualify as discontinued operations. The standard is effective prospectively for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2014, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. The implementation of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, but will impact the reporting of any future dispositions.

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. ASU 2013-11 is a new accounting standard on the financial statement presentation of unrecognized tax benefits. The new standard provides that a liability related to an unrecognized tax benefit would be presented as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward if such settlement is required or expected in the event the uncertain tax position is disallowed. The new standard became effective for the periods commencing January 1, 2014, and it should be applied prospectively to unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date with retrospective application permitted. The Company adopted the ASU effective January 1, 2014. The adoption of this standard did not have any effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.