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THE COMPANY AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
THE COMPANY AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  
THE COMPANY AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NOTE 1 – THE COMPANY AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”), through its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including American Multi-Cinema, Inc. and its subsidiaries, (collectively with Holdings, unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company” or “AMC”), is principally involved in the theatrical exhibition business and owns, operates or has interests in theatres located in the United States and Europe. Holdings is an indirect subsidiary of Dalian Wanda Group Co., Ltd. (“Wanda”), a Chinese private conglomerate.

 

On March 31, 2016, AMC Entertainment Inc. (“AMCE”) merged with and into Holdings, its direct parent company. In connection with the merger, Holdings assumed all of the obligations of AMCE pursuant to the indentures to the 5.875% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2022 (“Notes due 2022”), the 5.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2025 (“Notes due 2025”) and the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 30, 2013 (as subsequently amended).

 

As of December 31, 2016, Wanda owned approximately 68.83% of Holdings’ outstanding common stock and 86.88% of the combined voting power of Holdings’ outstanding common stock and has the power to control Holdings’ affairs and policies, including with respect to the election of directors (and, through the election of directors, the appointment of management), entering into mergers, sales of substantially all of the Company’s assets and other extraordinary transactions.

 

Initial Public Offering of Holdings:  On December 23, 2013, Holdings completed its initial public offering (“IPO”) of 18,421,053 shares of Class A common stock at a price of $18.00 per share. In connection with the IPO, the underwriters exercised in full their option to purchase an additional 2,631,579 shares of Class A common stock. As a result, the total IPO size was 21,052,632 shares of Class A common stock and the net proceeds to Holdings were approximately $355,299,000 after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses.

 

Use of Estimates:  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates and assumptions are used for, but not limited to: (1) Impairments, (2) Film exhibition costs, (3) Income and operating taxes, (4) Fair value of acquired assets and liabilities, and (5) Gift card and exchange ticket income. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Principles of Consolidation:  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Holdings and all subsidiaries, as discussed above. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. There are no noncontrolling (minority) interests in the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries; consequently, all of its stockholders’ equity, net earnings and comprehensive income for the periods presented are attributable to controlling interests. The Company manages its business under two reportable segments for its theatrical exhibition operations, U.S. markets and International markets.

 

Discontinued Operations:  The results of operations for the Company’s discontinued operations have been eliminated from the Company’s continuing operations and classified as discontinued operations for each period presented within the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Revenues:  Revenues are recognized when admissions and food and beverage sales are received at the theatres and are reported net of sales tax. The Company defers 100% of the revenue associated with the sales of gift cards and exchange tickets until such time as the items are redeemed or income from non-redemption is recorded. The Company recognizes income from non-redeemed or partially redeemed gift cards using the Proportional Method where it applies a non-redemption rate for its four gift card sales channels, which ranges from 13% to 20% of the current month sales, and the Company recognizes the total amount of income for that current month’s sales as income over the next 24 months in proportion to the pattern of actual redemptions. The Company has determined its non-redeemed rates and redemption patterns using data accumulated over ten years on a company-wide basis. Income for non-redeemed exchange tickets continues to be recognized as the redemption of these items is determined to be remote, that is if a ticket has not been used within 18 months after being purchased. During the years ended December 31, 2016, December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, the Company recognized $22,994,000,  $22,879,000, and $21,347,000, of income, respectively, related to the derecognition of gift card liabilities, which was recorded in other theatre revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. During the years ended December 31, 2016, December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, the Company recognized $13,647,000,  $12,079,000, and $11,710,000 of income, respectively, related to the derecognition of exchange ticket liabilities, which was recorded in other theatre revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Film Exhibition Costs:  Film exhibition costs are accrued based on the applicable box office receipts and estimates of the final settlement to the film licenses. Film exhibition costs include certain advertising costs. As of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company recorded film payables of $203,588,000 and $131,690,000, respectively, and which are included in accounts payable in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

Food and Beverage Costs:  The Company records rebate payments from vendors as a reduction of food and beverage costs when earned.

 

Screen Advertising:  On March 29, 2005, the Company and Regal Entertainment Group (“Regal”) combined their respective cinema screen advertising businesses into a joint venture company called National CineMedia, LLC (“NCM”) and on July 15, 2005, Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (“Cinemark”) joined NCM. The Company, Regal and Cinemark are known as the “Founding Members.” NCM engages in the marketing and sale of cinema advertising and promotions products, business communications and training services. The Company records its share of on-screen advertising revenues generated by NCM in other theatre revenues.

 

Customer Frequency Program:  AMC Stubs® is a customer loyalty program which allows members to earn rewards, receive discounts and participate in exclusive members-only offerings and services. In July 2016, the Company completed a national relaunch of its AMC Stubs® loyalty program featuring both a traditional paid tier called AMC Stubs PremiereTM and a new non-paid tier called AMC Stubs InsiderTM. Both programs reward loyal guests for their patronage of AMC Theatres. The AMC Stubs InsiderTM tier rewards guests for simply coming to the movies, and benefits include free refills on certain food items, discount ticket offers, a birthday gift and 20 reward points earned for every dollar spent. For a $15 annual membership fee, AMC Stubs PremiereTM members enjoy express service with specially marked shorter lines at the box office and concession stand, free size upgrades on certain food and beverage items, discount ticket offers, a birthday gift, discounted online ticketing fees and 100 reward points for every dollar spent. Some of the rewards earned are redeemable on future purchases at AMC locations. Once an AMC Stubs PremiereTM or AMC Stubs InsiderTM member accumulates 5,000 points they will earn a $5 virtual reward.

 

The portion of the admissions and food and beverage revenues attributed to the rewards is deferred as a reduction of admissions and food and beverage revenues and is allocated between admissions and food and beverage revenues based on expected member redemptions. Upon redemption, deferred rewards are recognized as revenues along with associated cost of goods. Converted rewards not redeemed within 9 months are forfeited and recognized as admissions or food and beverage revenues. Progress rewards (member expenditures toward converted or earned rewards) for expired memberships are forfeited based upon specified periods of inactivity of the membership and recognized as admissions or food and beverage revenues. The program's annual membership fee is deferred, net of estimated refunds, and is recognized ratably over the one-year membership period.

 

Advertising Costs:  The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred and does not have any direct-response advertising recorded as assets. Advertising costs were $10,083,000,  $10,316,000, and $10,317,000, for the years ended December 31, 2016, December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, respectively, and are recorded in operating expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Cash and Equivalents:  All highly liquid debt instruments and investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less are classified as cash equivalents.

 

Intangible Assets:  Intangible assets are recorded at fair value, in the case of intangible assets resulting from the acquisition of Holdings by Wanda on August 30, 2012 and other theatre acquisitions, and are comprised of amounts assigned to theatre leases acquired under favorable terms, management contracts, a contract with an equity method investee, and a non-compete agreement, each of which are being amortized on a straight- line basis over the estimated remaining useful lives of the assets, and trademark and trade names, which are considered either definite or indefinite lived intangible assets. Indefinite lived intangible assets are not amortized but rather evaluated for impairment annually.

 

The Company first assesses the qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events and circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded an intangible asset impairment charge of $839,000 related to a favorable lease for one theatre with six screens. There were no intangible asset impairment charges incurred during the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2014.

 

Investments:  The Company accounts for its investments in non-consolidated entities using either the cost or equity methods of accounting as appropriate, and has recorded the investments within other long-term assets in its Consolidated Balance Sheets. Equity earnings and losses are recorded when the Company’s ownership interest provides the Company with significant influence. The Company follows the guidance in ASC 323-30-35-3, which prescribes the use of the equity method for investments where the Company has significant influence. The Company classifies gains and losses on sales of investments or impairments accounted for using the cost method in investment income. Gains and losses on cash sales are recorded using the weighted average cost of all interests in the investments. Gains and losses related to non-cash negative common unit adjustments are recorded using the weighted average cost of those units in NCM. See Note 5 - Investments for further discussion of the Company’s investments in NCM. As of December 31, 2016, the Company holds equity method investments comprised of a 17.4% interest in NCM, a joint venture that markets and sells cinema advertising and promotions; a 16.1% interest in SV Holdco LLC (“SV Holdco”) Class C units and a 0.7% interest in SV Holdco Class A units, a joint venture that markets and sells cinema advertising and promotions through Screenvision; a 50% interest in Digital CineMedia Ltd. (“DCM”), a joint venture that provides advertising services in International markets; a 32% interest in AC JV, LLC (“AC JV”), a joint venture that owns Fathom Events offering alternative content for motion picture screens; a 29% interest in Digital Cinema Implementation Partners LLC (“DCIP”), a joint venture charged with implementing digital cinema in the Company’s theatres; a 14.6% interest in Digital Cinema Distribution Coalition, LLC (“DCDC”), a satellite distribution network for feature films and other digital cinema content; a 50% ownership interest in five U.S. motion picture theatres and one IMAX® screen; and a 50% ownership interest in Open Road Releasing, LLC, operator of Open Road Films, LLC (“Open Road Films”), a motion picture distribution and production company.

 

Goodwill:  Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets related to the acquisition of Holdings by Wanda on August 30, 2012 and subsequent theatre business acquisitions. The Company is not required to amortize goodwill as a charge to earnings; however, the Company is required to conduct an annual review of goodwill for impairment.

 

The Company’s recorded goodwill was $3,932,960,000 and $2,406,691,000 as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The Company evaluates goodwill and its indefinite-lived trademark and trade names for impairment annually as of the beginning of the fourth quarter or more frequently as specific events or circumstances dictate. The Company’s goodwill is recorded in each of its two reportable segments for its theatrical exhibition operations, U.S. markets and International markets.

 

The Company performed its annual impairment analysis during the fourth quarter of calendar 2016 and the fourth quarter of calendar 2015, and reached a determination that there was no goodwill or trademark and trade name impairment. According to Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350-20, the Company has an option to first assess the qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. During the fourth quarter of calendar 2016 and the fourth quarter of calendar 2015, the Company assessed qualitative factors and reached a determination that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the Company’s reporting unit is less than its carrying value, and therefore, no impairment charge was incurred.

 

Other Long-term Assets: Other long-term assets are comprised principally of investments in partnerships and joint ventures, costs incurred in connection with the Company’s line-of-credit revolving credit arrangement, which is being amortized to interest expense using the effective interest rate method over the respective life of the issuance, and capitalized computer software, which is amortized over the estimated useful life of the software. See Note 6 – Supplemental Balance Sheet Information.

 

Accounts Payable:  Under the Company’s cash management system, checks issued but not presented to banks frequently result in book overdraft balances for accounting purposes and are classified within accounts payable in the balance sheet. The change in book overdrafts are reported as a component of operating cash flows for accounts payable as they do not represent bank overdrafts. The amount of these checks included in accounts payable as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was $60,266,000 and $42,751,000, respectively.

 

Leases:  The majority of the Company’s operations are conducted in premises occupied under lease agreements with initial base terms ranging generally from 12 to 15 years, with certain leases containing options to extend the leases for up to an additional 20 years. The Company typically does not believe that exercise of the renewal options are reasonably assured at the inception of the lease agreements and, therefore, considers the initial base term as the lease term. Lease terms vary but generally the leases provide for fixed and escalating rentals, contingent escalating rentals based on the Consumer Price Index not to exceed certain specified amounts and contingent rentals based on revenues.

 

The Company records rent expense for its operating leases on a straight-line basis over the initial base lease term commencing with the date the Company has “control and access” to the leased premises, which is generally a date prior to the “lease commencement date” in the lease agreement. Rent expense related to any “rent holiday” is recorded as operating expense, until construction of the leased premises is complete and the premises are ready for their intended use. Rent charges upon completion of the leased premises subsequent to the date the premises are ready for their intended use are expensed as a component of rent expense.

 

The Company often receives contributions from landlords for renovations at existing locations. The Company records the amounts received from landlords as deferred rent and amortizes the balance as a reduction to rent expense over the base term of the lease agreement.

 

The Company evaluates the classification of its leases following the guidance in ASC 840-10-25. Leases that qualify as capital leases are recorded at the present value of the future minimum rentals over the base term of the lease using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. Capital lease assets are assigned an estimated useful life at the inception of the lease that generally corresponds with the base term of the lease.

 

Occasionally, the Company or other theatre operators it has acquired are responsible for the construction of new leased theatres and for paying project costs that are in excess of an agreed upon amount to be reimbursed from the developer. ASC 840-40-05-5 requires the Company to be considered the owner (for accounting purposes) of these types of projects during the construction period and therefore it is required to account for these projects as sale and leaseback transactions. As a result, the Company has recorded financing lease obligations for failed sale leaseback transactions of $533,573,000 and $74,898,000 in its Consolidated Balance Sheets related to these types of projects as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

 

Sale and Leaseback Transactions:  The Company accounts for the sale and leaseback of real estate assets in accordance with ASC 840-40. Losses on sale leaseback transactions are recognized at the time of sale if the fair value of the property sold is less than the net book value of the property. Gains on sale and leaseback transactions are deferred and amortized over the remaining lease term.

 

Impairment of Long-lived Assets:  The Company reviews long-lived assets, including definite-lived intangibles, investments in non-consolidated equity method investees, and internal use software for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset group may not be fully recoverable. The Company identifies impairments related to internal use software when management determines that the remaining carrying value of the software will not be realized through future use. The Company reviews internal management reports on a quarterly basis as well as monitors current and potential future competition in the markets where it operates for indicators of triggering events or circumstances that indicate potential impairment of individual theatre assets. The Company evaluates theatres using historical and projected data of theatre level cash flow as its primary indicator of potential impairment and considers the seasonality of its business when making these evaluations. The Company performs its impairment analysis quarterly. Under these analyses, if the sum of the estimated future cash flows, undiscounted and without interest charges, are less than the carrying amount of the asset group, an impairment loss is recognized in the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value. Assets are evaluated for impairment on an individual theatre basis, which management believes is the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows. The impairment evaluation is based on the estimated cash flows from continuing use until the expected disposal date for the fair value of furniture, fixtures and equipment. The expected disposal date does not exceed the remaining lease period unless it is probable existing renewal options will be exercised and may be less than the remaining lease period when the Company does not expect to operate the theatre to the end of its lease term. The fair value of assets is determined as either the expected selling price less selling costs (where appropriate) or the present value of the estimated future cash flows. The fair value of furniture, fixtures and equipment has been determined using similar asset sales, in some instances with the assistance of third party valuation studies and using management judgment.

 

There is considerable management judgment necessary to determine the estimated future cash flows and fair values of the Company’s theatres and other long-lived assets, and, accordingly, actual results could vary significantly from such estimates, which fall under Level 3 within the fair value measurement hierarchy, see Note 14 - Fair Value Measurements.

 

Impairment losses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations are included in the following captions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year

 

Year

 

Year

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

(In thousands)

    

2016

    

2015

    

2014

 

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

$

5,544

 

$

1,702

 

$

3,149

 

 

During calendar 2016, the Company recognized an impairment loss of $5,544,000 on two theatres with 22 screens, which was related to property, net. During calendar 2015, the Company recognized an impairment loss of $1,702,000 on three theatres with 15 screens, which was related to property, net of $863,000, and intangible assets, net of $839,000. During calendar 2014, the Company recognized an impairment loss of $3,149,000 on eight theatres with 94 screens, which was related to property, net.

 

Foreign Currency Translation:  Operations outside the United States are generally measured using the local currency as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities are translated at the rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. Income and expense items are translated at average rates of exchange. The resultant translation adjustments are included in foreign currency translation adjustment, a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions, except those intercompany transactions of a long-term investment nature, and the Company’s £250 million, 6.375% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2024, which have been designated as a non-derivative net investment hedge of the Company’s investment in Odeon and UCI Cinemas Holdings Limited (“Odeon”) are included in net earnings. If the Company substantially liquidates its investment in a foreign entity, any gain or loss on currency translation balance recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income is recognized as part of a gain or loss on disposition.

 

Income and Operating Taxes:  The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740-10. Under ASC 740-10, deferred income tax effects of transactions reported in different periods for financial reporting and income tax return purposes are recorded by the asset and liability method. This method gives consideration to the future tax consequences of deferred income or expense items and recognizes changes in income tax laws in the period of enactment. The statement of operations effect is generally derived from changes in deferred income taxes on the balance sheet.

 

Holdings and its domestic subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return and combined income tax returns in certain state jurisdictions. Foreign subsidiaries file income tax returns in foreign jurisdictions. Income taxes are determined based on separate Company computations of income or loss. Tax sharing arrangements are in place and utilized when tax benefits from affiliates in the consolidated group are used to offset what would otherwise be taxable income generated by Holdings or another affiliate.

 

Casualty Insurance:  The Company is self-insured for general liability up to $1,000,000 per occurrence and carries a $500,000 deductible limit per occurrence for workers compensation claims. The Company utilizes actuarial projections of its ultimate losses to calculate its reserves and expense. The actuarial method includes an allowance for adverse developments on known claims and an allowance for claims which have been incurred but which have not yet been reported. As of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company recorded casualty insurance reserves of $23,435,000 and $19,973,000 , respectively, net of estimated insurance recoveries. The Company recorded expenses related to general liability and workers compensation claims of $15,617,000, of $18,487,000, and $16,329,000 for the years ended December 31, 2016, December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, respectively.

 

Other Expense (Income):  The following table sets forth the components of other expense (income):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year

 

Year

 

Year

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

(In thousands)

    

2016

    

2015

    

2014

Gain on redemption of 8.75% Senior Fixed Rate Notes due 2019

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

(8,386)

Loss on modification of Senior Secured Credit Facility-Term loan 2022

 

 

 —

 

 

1,366

 

 

 —

Loss on redemption of 9.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2020

 

 

 —

 

 

9,318

 

 

 —

Business interruption insurance recoveries

 

 

(424)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Miscellaneous

 

 

(22)

 

 

 —

 

 

42

Other expense (income)

 

$

(446)

 

$

10,684

 

$

(8,344)

 

Policy for Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:  The Company considers the amount recorded for corporate borrowings issued or acquired at a premium above the stated principal balance to be part of the amount borrowed and classifies the related cash inflows and outflows up to but not exceeding the borrowed amount as financing activities in its Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. For amounts borrowed in excess of the stated principal amount, a portion of the semi-annual coupon payment is considered to be a repayment of the amount borrowed and the remaining portion of the semi-annual coupon payment is an interest payment flowing through operating activities based on the level yield to maturity of the debt.

 

Changes in Accounting Principles: The Company adopted the provisions of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-03 and 2015-15, Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) as of the beginning of 2016 on a retrospective basis. As a result of the adoption of ASU No. 2015-03 and ASU No. 2015-15, the Company reclassified $21,768,000 of debt issuance costs for its term loan and senior subordinated notes from other long-term assets to corporate borrowings in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015. The Company continues to defer and present its debt issuance costs related to its line-of credit arrangement as an asset regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement as provided in ASU No. 2015-15.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company early adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting as of the beginning of 2016. The effect of adopting ASU 2016-09 is reflected in Stockholders’ Equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment. This guidance simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share based payment awards to employees including accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, statutory tax withholding requirements and classification in the statement of cash flows. As permitted under ASU 2016-09, the Company has elected to account for forfeitures in compensation cost when they occur. A summary of the changes made to the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2015, is included in the following table:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Originally

   

As Adopted

Additional paid-in capital

 

$  

1,183,218

   

$  

1,182,923

Accumulated earnings

 

 

352,389

   

 

352,684

 

New Accounting Pronouncements: In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases, which requires lessees to recognize leases on-balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use model (ROU) that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for the Company on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company has not yet decided whether it will early adopt the new standard. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for leases existing at, or entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available.

 

The Company expects that this standard will have a material effect on its financial statements. While the Company is continuing to assess the effect of adoption, the Company currently believes the most significant changes relate to (1) the recognition of new ROU assets and lease liabilities on our balance sheet for theatres subject to operating leases; (2) the derecognition of existing assets and liabilities for certain sale-leaseback transactions (including those arising from build-to-suit lease arrangements for which construction is complete and the Company is leasing the constructed asset) that currently do not qualify for sale accounting; and (3) the derecognition of existing assets and liabilities for certain assets under construction in build-to-suit lease arrangements that the Company will lease when construction is complete. The Company does not expect a significant change in our leasing activity between now and adoption.  The Company expects to elect all of the standard’s available practical expedients on adoption. However, the Company has not quantified the effects of these expected changes from the new standard.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), (“ASU 2014-09”), which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles when it becomes effective. On July 9, 2015, the FASB decided to delay the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. The new standard is effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. Companies may elect to adopt this application as of the original effective date for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016. The standard permits the use of either a retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements including the Company’s Exhibitor’s Services Agreement with NCM, its customer frequency program, gift card and exchange ticket income and other ancilliary or contractual revenues. The Company believes its Exhibitor’s Services Agreement with NCM includes a significant financing component and expects that as a result advertising revenues will increase significantly with a similar offsetting increase in interest expense. The Company has selected the cumulative effect transition method, and expects to adopt in the first quarter of 2018.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350). ASU 2017-04 simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by removing the second step of the two-step impairment test. The amendment requires an entity to perform its annual, or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge should be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. The amendment should be applied on a prospective basis. ASU 2017-04 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating this new guidance to determine the impact it will have on its consolidated financial statements.